Hearing loss is a common chronic condition and becomes more frequent with age. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that “approximately 15% of American adults aged 18 and older report that they have at least some trouble hearing.”
Even though it’s common, realizing that you may have hearing loss may give rise to complicated feelings as well as leave you unsure as to what to do next.
Three Steps To Take if You Think You Have Hearing Loss
If you or your loved one has noticed that your hearing has changed, take these three steps to address the problem and help yourself come to terms with your hearing loss.
- Get a hearing test. The first thing you want to do if you notice signs of hearing loss is to make an appointment for a hearing test. An audiologist will be able to determine if your hearing loss is temporary and caused by something like earwax buildup, or permanent.
- Consider treatment options. If your hearing loss is permanent, hearing aids are most common treatment option. Your audiologist can discuss the various styles and features and different hearing aids with you, as well as get a better sense of what your personal preferences and day-to-day hearing needs are to help find a pair that works for you. They will be there with you through the initial fitting process and help you troubleshoot or make any needed adjustments as you get used to your device.
- Communicate your feelings to others. Learning to live with hearing loss can be an adjustment. It can be helpful to have different resources to turn to in order help you navigate this new time. This may be your audiologist, a counselor, a hearing loss support group, family and friends or all of the above. Knowing that you have the support of your loved ones and having knowledgeable people to turn to for advice can help make coming to terms with your hearing loss a much easier process.
Why Treatment is So Important
Without treatment, your hearing loss is likely to progress and worsen. Untreated hearing loss can affect practically every area of your life. It can make it harder to understand what’s being said in work meetings or have a meaningful conversation with your loved ones. It also makes it difficult to participate in activities like listening to music or meeting with your book club at Lava Coffee.
Eventually, it can even increase your risk of certain health problems like anxiety, depression, and potentially even cognitive decline and dementia.
Hearing aids can help you avoid those risks and stay connected to the people and things that you love the most.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our hearing experts, contact Today’s Hearing today.