It’s easy to take your hearing for granted. Having difficulty hearing isn’t normally something that people with normal hearing consider. It’s a sense that we can easily take for granted until it’s gone.
Hearing loss affects more than your ability to hear. Difficulty hearing can actually be an indication of an underlying medical condition. Taking care of your ears today can help preserve your hearing in the future.
With this in mind, we’re looking at why you should make your hearing a priority in 2020.
5 Reasons to Make Your Hearing a Priority in 2020
1. Reduced Risks of Accidents
Your hearing alerts you to dangers in your surrounding environment, often without you even realizing it’s happened. Think for example of the last time you heard a siren – not hearing the siren can definitely put you at a greater risk of danger.
In addition to alerting us to danger, your hearing can play a role in your balance. According to a John Hopkins study, mild hearing loss can increase your risk of a fall by up to 3 times. As the hearing loss progressively worsens, so the risk of an accident increases.
2. Reduced Risks of Dementia
Dementia is a group of symptoms that is caused by disease damaging your brain. Memory, problem solving, language, thinking and perception can all be affected by dementia.
What you may not realize is that protecting your hearing can help reduce your risk of developing dementia. The Hearing Loss Association of America state that “hearing loss may increase the risk of cognitive problems and even dementia.” Learn more about the connection between your hearing and your brain here.
3. Improved Communication
It may sound obvious; hearing loss can make communication more challenging. Although the ability to hear someone speaking is impacted by a hearing loss, it actually goes beyond this.
Difficulty hearing can be frustrating. Not only for the person with hearing loss, but for the person who they are speaking to also. If you have an untreated hearing loss, you may feel tired of frequently asking someone to repeat themselves. This could cause misinterpretation or a misunderstanding of what is being said. Treating the hearing loss can make the flow of communication so much easier.
4. Improved Quality of Life
Untreated hearing loss can be life-changing. It has been linked to increased levels of social isolation and withdrawal. Over time, this can lead to depression and anxiety.
For people with untreated hearing loss, you may be embarrassed to venture into social environments. You may fear misunderstanding something, or a fear of not being able to actively participate in the conversation. Treating a hearing loss can give you a significantly improved quality of life.
5. Detect Underlying Health Problems
You may have noticed a change in your hearing ability, but are reluctant to seek help. Hearing loss, however, isn’t just something that naturally happens as we age. It can be an indicator of an underlying health condition, such as diabetes or hypertension. Treating the health issue can help to restore your hearing ability.
If you are experiencing hearing loss, you are not alone. It’s estimated that one in three people between the ages of 65 – 74 have a degree of hearing loss. Seeking treatment sooner rather than later can help reduce the impact that hearing loss has. Regular hearing assessments are an important way to help detect any changes to your baseline hearing. If it’s been over 2 years since your last assessment, we recommend booking in an appointment. Call the hearing healthcare professionals at Anderson Audiology today on 702-997-2964. Alternatively, click here to request an appointment online.