Do Not Neglect Testing Your Hearing

When it comes to hearing loss, many of us tend to bury our heads in the sand like ostriches, so to speak, in order to avoid bad news! Unfortunately, neglecting our hearing will only make it worse. We always deny that our hearing is bad and put off getting a hearing examination, when in reality we would be a lot better off if we tested our hearing in a timely manner.

Believe it or not, hearing loss is not as uncommon as you might think. In fact, it is the third most common health condition in America, following arthritis as well as cardiovascular disease. Even though it is so common, people in America wait for anywhere between 6 to 10 years before finally agreeing to seek any kind of treatment for their hearing loss. Unfortunately, the longer you wait, the worse your hearing and overall health becomes, so do not delay!

You may be quick to dismiss your hearing problem because you think it only affects your ears, when in reality it affects your physiological as well as psychological health. Hearing loss can even increase your chances of falling down due to loss of balance. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which assessed over 232 million adults found that those with severe hearing loss had a 90% chance of sustaining an injury due to loss of balance! Even those with only a mild type of hearing loss had a 60% chance of having similar types of injury, while those with mid-range hearing loss had a 70% likelihood of having injuries due to falling. This is why it is important to get your hearing tested as soon as you realize you are having problems.

Loss of hearing hampers your ability to function efficiently in the workplace and even on the road. Your driving skills will deteriorate with hearing loss, since you will no longer be able to hear emergency sounds such as sirens or police cars. This may result in accidents and put you and your loved ones at risk. You may also suffer a significant loss of income in the workplace due to being unable to perform to the best of your ability as a result of having untreated hearing loss.

A lesser known difficulty of hearing loss is the psychological aspects of hearing loss that result from an increase of social withdrawal. Hearing loss tends to isolate a person by making them feel left out during conversations, which may make them reluctant to attend social gatherings. Over time this may result in Depression and Anxiety.

An even more serious problem that can result from hearing loss is dementia. Johns Hopkins University recently found a connection between hearing damage and dementia that begins earlier in life. When communicative skills decline and you become less social, your cognitive skills such as memory and reasoning also decline. This can result in dementia, which can put you at risk for other serious health problems such as Alzheimer’s or even stroke.

Thankfully, all of these serious health risks can be avoided, as long as you get your hearing tested in time. Early diagnosis of hearing loss results in more effective treatment methods, which can benefit you physically, psychologically, personally, professionally, and socially. If you or a loved one has hearing loss, get your hearing tested by a hearing care professional today!