Why Annual Hearing Tests Are Important
01-01-2021
Everyone knows the importance of visiting a doctor. You go when you’re sick, or there’s a specific issue you’re trying to figure out, and you go once per year for your annual checkup. You probably do the same thing with your dentist, going when you have a particular issue, as well as going twice yearly for a checkup. Visiting your audiologist should be no different. If you’re experiencing hearing issues, you’ll make an appointment, but you should also schedule yearly hearing evaluations for you and your family members.
Avoiding Gradual Hearing Loss
Something interesting about hearing loss is it’s often gradual. You typically won’t just wake up one morning and not be able to hear. Instead, your hearing will go, little by little, until you find yourself without the ability to hear as you used to. You may not notice it’s happening until it’s too late. Yearly hearing tests can check for this type of gradual loss.
At your yearly hearing examinations in Laredo, TX, your audiologist will check for changes that have occurred since the last exam. By making notes on your chart or in your records, the audiologist will know when things are different. If something is negatively affecting the way you hear, the doctor will discuss that with you.
In the meantime, here are a few signs of gradual hearing loss you may be experiencing:
• Trouble hearing when you’re on the phone
• Having to strain to hear everything when in a meeting, a face-to-face conversation, or watching a movie
• Turning the volume up on a radio or television when everyone else can hear it just fine
• Spending more time than is healthy in environments that are particularly loud
• Not being able to pinpoint the direction a sound is coming from
• Feeling like sounds are muffled when everyone else feels they are quite clear
You might also be experiencing gradual hearing loss if you find yourself asking people to repeat things more and more often or if you ask others to turn toward you when they are speaking so you can read their lips as they talk. If those people who are closest to you mention they notice an issue with your hearing, that could also indicate a loss. Retreating from social settings and avoiding conversations because you fear embarrassment about not being able to hear could be another sign that hearing loss might be an issue for you.
If any of the abovementioned signs are issues for you, or if you’ve experienced ringing, whooshing, or buzzing in your ears, it’s probably time for an exam. Especially if it’s been a while since your last hearing evaluation -a year or longer- you need to schedule your annual hearing test in Laredo.
Maintaining a Higher Quality of Life
Hearing loss doesn’t just affect your ears. It affects your overall health and happiness, as well as the moods of those around you. You may not want to believe it would have so great an effect on your life and the life of those you love, but it can become a serious issue if not properly treated,. Some non-hearing-related issues you might have to deal with when experiencing hearing loss include:
Strained Personal Relationships
Communication is an important part of any personal relationship. If you have a hard time hearing others, are asking them to repeat themselves on a regular basis, or get your signals mixed because of a misunderstanding, it can lead to serious relationship problems. You could both become frustrated, angry, or otherwise upset.
Tension in the Workplace
Your managers and coworkers count on proper communication, so everything runs smoothly in the workplace. If you are unable to hear, there are some solutions, but you have to admit there’s an issue and seek help. By ignoring the fact you’re dealing with hearing loss, there could be some serious tension in the workplace as others try to communicate effectively. Some unfortunate consequences could be a lost job or a dip in earning power.
Difficulty at School
Hearing loss can be experienced by people of all ages. About 12.5% of children in America deal with this issue due to being exposed to too many loud noises. (If this is factual, add the source at the bottom please) With this being an issue for kids between ages 6 and 19, you can see how their entire grade school experience could be affected. These children could have trouble learning, as well as making and keeping friends.
Struggles With Everyday Tasks
Grocery shopping, driving, playing with the kids, enjoying a movie, or attending a concert are all word choice? when you can hear well. If you’re dealing with hearing loss, you may not enjoy the same things you used to enjoy, and everyday tasks might become more difficult as well.
Depression and Anxiety
Whether due to some of the other issues previously mentioned or for another reason related to hearing loss, many patients deal with depression and anxiety.
As you can see, hearing loss can severely affect the quality of your life. By skipping out on your annual hearing evaluations in Laredo, you could be setting yourself up to struggle and suffer in many areas of your life.
By attending your yearly hearing evaluations, you set yourself up for success. The earlier in life you discover a hearing difficulty, the earlier the chance you have to come up with a solution. Our audiologists and in Laredo, TX have a variety of solutions, with one that’s just right for your situation. There’s no reason to isolate yourself or become bored with the limited activities available to those hard of hearing, and yearly hearing tests are just one step in the process of maintaining a high quality of life.
Diagnosing Health Issues Related to Hearing Loss
Hearing loss has interestingly been linked to a variety of other health issues, so it should never be ignored. Depending on the specific health concern, hearing loss could be a sign you’re dealing with something, or it could
be the reason you’re dealing with something. This is a confusing sentence. Certain health issues diagnosed by a physician should receive follow-up care by an audiologist.
Hearing loss can be a symptom of other health conditions. Our trained Audiologist will evaluation your hearing and determine is a referral to a physician is needed. Some of these health problems could include cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even cognitive decline.
Take Action To Improve Your Hearing Health
You should never just wait until you realize there’s a problem with your hearing in order to visit an audiologist. It takes conscious action on your part to keep your hearing as healthy as possible. Yearly hearing evaluations are just as important as yearly physicals and twice-yearly dental visits. The next time you pick up the phone to call your physician or your dentist, make a call to Oliveira Audiology & Hearing Center as well to schedule your exam.
We look forward to helping you through the process of keeping your hearing health in order. Give us a call in Laredo, TX, today at 956-727-3801 to learn more or to schedule your evaluation.
Featured Image / By Pamela Au