Have you been getting your hearing tested regularly? The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that you have your hearing screened every five years until your 65th birthday, then every one to three years after that. The reason for this frequency is to be proactive about your hearing health and catch small changes before they get more pronounced.
Why You Need Hearing Tests So Often
Hearing loss, especially age-related hearing loss, develops gradually, and our brains fill in the gaps in your hearing without you even noticing. Because of this, you may not immediately realize youāre in the beginning stages of hearing loss. Hearing tests give you an objective measure of your hearing, allowing you and your hearing health specialist to catch changes as soon as possible.
Supporting Clear Communication
Getting your hearing tested regularly enables you to communicate clearly and confidently, even in group settings. Itās empowering to know for sure what your hearing abilities are; either you can be confident that youāre hearing everything that is said without second-guessing yourself, or you have the self-knowledge to adjust your listening habits and feel able to ask for repeats.
If you wear hearing aids already, then regular hearing tests are even more helpful, because at each hearing test, you and your audiologist will adjust settings and create listening programs that ensure that your hearing aids are performing at their absolute best for your personal hearing needs.
Improving Safety
Your ability to hear doesnāt just keep you connected socially; it also keeps you more grounded in the world around you. Hearing is imperative for your personal safety. Catching sounds around you, like traffic, alarms or announcements, can make a huge difference in your ability to react and get out of harmās way, if necessary.
Making Learning Possible
Our brains crave learning new things. Whether youāre in school, learning things on the job or picking up new hobbies, youāre learning things all the time. However, if you have hearing loss, the mental load of the act of hearing is a heavier burden than it would be otherwise, meaning you have less brainpower to learn and absorb new information around you. This can leave you feeling disconnected and confused. By staying on top of your hearing health, you can stay active in the learning process and give your brain the workout it deserves.
How to Get Started
If you havenāt had a hearing test in over five years, or if you havenāt had one at all, youāre due for an updated audiogram. Call Waterville Audiology today to make an appointment and feel confident in your connection to the world around you.