You probably have annual wellness exams, annual physicals, annual vision tests and annual dental checkups. You may not prioritize a yearly hearing test because you don’t think you have symptoms of hearing loss, or because you don’t believe you have the time. However, getting your hearing tested regularly is a vital part of healthy aging and maintaining overall well-being.
The Benefits of a Hearing Test
Even if you don’t have obvious symptoms of hearing loss, there are many benefits to getting your hearing checked.
Detect Hearing Loss Early
Hearing loss develops gradually. In fact, many people don’t realize they have hearing loss until the condition begins to interrupt their daily lives in significant ways. It’s estimated that only 30% of adults aged 70 and older who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them. A big reason for that number is that many people don’t realize they need hearing aids until much later. Getting your hearing tested before you notice symptoms can help you detect and mitigate hearing loss much sooner.
Establish Your Hearing Baseline
If you don’t have hearing loss, it is valuable to establish a baseline of your hearing ability so you can easily monitor changes—subtle or sudden—in the coming years. This is especially true if you’re exposed to loud noises regularly at work or in daily life; noise-induced hearing loss is common, but preventable.
Preventing Untreated Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to social isolation, balance issues and fall risk, cognitive decline, increased risk of dementia, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, decreased personal safety and decreased independence. This is why hearing health is considered such a critical piece of our overall health and well-being.
Identify Other Hearing- and Ear-Related Problems
Hearing tests can also reveal other hearing-related issues, such as auditory processing disorders or tinnitus, or identify problems with the organs in the ear. Your ears are the seat of both your hearing and balance systems; maintaining one is essential for maintaining the other.
Establish a Relationship with a Hearing Health Professional
Degeneration of hearing is a natural part of aging. Just as your eyes, joints and other parts of your body age, so do your ears. Hearing health professionals, like audiologists, are your allies and possess a wellspring of knowledge. Building a relationship with your audiologist now can make treatment smoother once it becomes necessary, and your audiologist will have a bank of knowledge about your hearing and ears that will enable them to create the perfect customized treatment plan for you.
How Often Should I Get My Hearing Tested?
It is recommended that you get a hearing test every five years when you’re between 50 and 64 years old, and then once a year after you turn 65. Call San Diego Hearing Center today to make an appointment. We are happy to begin this journey to better hearing health and wellness with you.