Many people with hearing loss don’t have it from birth. Hearing loss is a gradual process that occurs over time. It’s usually due to hearing loss from noises or aging.
Statistics show that hearing loss is more common in the elderly than it is in the younger generations. One third of adults 65-74 have hearing impairment, nearly half of 75 have it and four of five 85+ suffer from hearing loss.
In other words: Hearing loss is normal and common for most people. It’s part of living a full, exciting life.
This blog will discuss the eight things that you should do in case of hearing loss.
1. Have your hearing tested
You should have your hearing checked if you suspect you may have hearing loss.
You can go to a hearing healthcare professional for a complete and definitive hearing evaluation.
- Choose between ignoring it…
You have two options if you discover you have hearing loss.
Some of the difficulties of hearing loss can be subtle and barely visible, such as needing to repeat certain things or missing small everyday sounds.
Some are more obvious or impactful like misunderstanding important information or feeling excluded from conversations and activities.
Others can be more serious and health-related, such as hearing loss and higher risks of anxiety, falls, hospitalizations, social isolation and dementia.
2. It can be treated
However, scientists and doctors from Columbia University and Johns Hopkins Medicine have long recognized that treating hearing loss can be a helpful solution to many of these problems. Studies have shown that hearing aids are associated with lower risk of falling, anxiety, and dementia.
3. Visit a hearing healthcare professional
You are ready to treat your hearing loss. Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Frank Lin suggests treating it ” sooner than expected…before these brain structural modifications take place.” Talk to your general practitioner or doctor. You can also visit a hearing healthcare professional such as an otolaryngologist, audiologist, or hearing aid specialist.
4. Find the root cause of your hearing loss
A hearing healthcare professional will answer all of your questions about hearing loss. Although every clinic and practice is different, there are some things you can expect when you visit your first appointment.
- Complete paperwork, including intake papers with a hearing questionnaire and health history.
- A hearing evaluation is a visual examination of your ears, followed by a hearing test in the sound booth.
- Examine your audiogram. The audiogram is a graph that shows the severity of your hearing loss.
- Discuss the options and next steps. This may include a hearing aid recommendation and a technology demonstration.
5. Ask for hearing aids
Hearing aids are most likely recommended if hearing loss is diagnosed during an appointment. The most popular way to treat hearing loss is with hearing aids. Hearing aids can be helpful for most people with hearing loss, provided that they are fitted by an experienced professional and tailored to each individual’s hearing and lifestyle needs.
A majority of states require a 30-to-60-day trial period before purchasing hearing aids. Even if the state doesn’t require it, most hearing professionals will provide it. You have the opportunity to test them out and see how they can improve your daily life.
6. Ask for one that is tailored to your needs
There is no one-size fits all approach to hearing aids. Seeing a licensed professional to get your hearing aids is the best way to go. You will both work together to find the best hearing aids for your needs. This will depend on several factors such as your level of loss, personal style, preference for features, how active you are and many other factors.
7. See the difference they make
After you have received your hearing aids, enjoy the trial period. You can wear them anywhere, including outside and at work.
You can see and feel the difference in the lives of many hearing-aid wearers.
8. Live better, hear better
After the trial period ends, you can decide for yourself if you want to go back to the original way.
It is time to take action if hearing loss is making your life more difficult or less enjoyable.
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