Hearing tests are a critical part of overall health care, especially as you age. It’s recommended that you get your hearing checked every year after you turn 65, just like you have annual checkups with your primary care provider, dentist and eye doctor. Here are some of the reasons why this recommendation stands.
Hearing Health is Health Care
Hearing health has been connected to a wide range of health conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, thyroid disorders and cancer. Untreated hearing loss has been shown to negatively affect balance and fall risk, memory, social connection, mental health, work performance and personal independence, and it may also be linked to dementia. We don’t say all that to scare you; rather, we want to remind you that health is complex, and our bodies are complicated. To take good care of your overall health, hearing health care needs to be a part of your program.
Be Proactive About Hearing Loss
Hearing loss becomes increasingly likely as you get older. In fact, it’s nearly ubiquitous among older adults. Moreover, it develops gradually—so gradually, many people don’t even realize they have hearing loss until it’s progressed quite far, or they underestimate how severe they have it. This means that people are not getting the hearing loss treatment they need.
If you haven’t noticed any signs of hearing loss yet, that doesn’t mean that your hearing is unaffected. Scheduling regular hearing tests enables you to catch what you might have otherwise missed. Better yet, getting your hearing tested while your hearing levels are still in “normal” range establishes a baseline hearing ability to which you can refer back as time goes on and you continue retesting. You can catch small changes before they progress into severe hearing loss.
Schedule Your Next Hearing Test
If you haven’t had a hearing test in a few years, or if you haven’t had one at all, then now is the perfect time to begin an annual routine of getting your hearing checked. As we say, you’re in control of your hearing loss journey; starting proactively is a wise decision that can have many positive effects on your health, relationships and connection to the world around you.
To schedule an appointment, call Valley Audiology today. Our friendly office staff will be happy to get you on the calendar.