Are you or a loved one noticing that your hearing might not be as good as it used to be?
Maybe you don’t hear well in crowded situations. Or maybe your family complains that your television is inordinately loud.
If these happen to you, it is probably time for you to stop in for an assessment.
Still not sure? Consider the following reasons to get your hearing health checked:
1.) Hearing loss is usually gradual.
This means you may not notice that you aren’t hearing as well as you used to.
Have you noticed any of the following:
- You have trouble hearing while on the phone.
- You experience difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
- You generally need to ask people to repeat themselves.
- You feel you have to strain or use a lot of effort to hear everything in a meeting or conversation.
- You have difficulty pinpointing the direction from which a sound is coming.
- You think sounds or voices seem muffled.
- You have trouble understanding young children or people with higher-pitched voices.
- You have trouble understanding speech when the speaker is not facing you.
- You need to turn the volume on the TV up in order to hear comfortably, even though others say it’s too loud.
- You decline social settings to avoid embarrassment around misunderstandings.
- You’ve had someone close to you mention that you may have an issue with your hearing.
- You spend a lot of time in very loud environments.
- You have a ringing, buzzing or whooshing sensation in your ears.
If you notice yourself doing any of these things, you definitely need to stop in and see us.
2.) Untreated hearing loss is associated with other health issues, and some medications can actually cause it.
There can be health issues that actually cause hearing loss, and many maintenance medications can too. If you aren’t sure if your health challenges might be affecting your hearing, we can help determine that for you.
For instance, the following are known to be related to hearing loss:
- Heart disease can lead to hearing loss, because poor cardiovascular health decreases blood flow, and the structures in the ear need strong blood flow to continue working properly.
- Hearing loss is more common in diabetics, because uncontrolled fluctuations in blood sugar levels contribute to hearing loss because they damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including those found in the functional parts of the ear.
- Sleep apnea has been linked with the development of hearing difficulties, possibly because it reduces blood supply to the important parts of the inner ear.
- Hearing loss has been strongly associated with cognitive decline in older Americans. But there is good news: early research suggests that using hearing aids can delay the onset of dementia.
- Additionally, untreated hearing loss can cause dizziness, vertigo and other issues that can cause falls, headaches and general malaise.
3.) The best way to protect yourself is to assess your hearing now, and have it checked often.
Consult with the Hearing Experts at Kenwood Hearing Center
Still have questions? If you would like to speak with an experienced hearing care professional about hearing loss prevention or anything else related to your hearing health, contact us today and schedule an appointment.