How in the world did wearing hearing aids become cool?
I mean, let’s face it, if you wear hearing aids, you’re old and broken, right?
Let’s take a quick look at some statistics. More than 60 million American adults under age 69 are exposed to noise levels that can damage their hearing at work, according to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders (NIDCD). In addition, close to 18 million are exposed to hearing damage from non-occupational noise.
I couldn’t be more delighted to see that the hard-dying stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids was reserved for old people, and younger people are beginning to wake up to the fact that wearing hearing aids is something positive.
In addition to cheering on those who are dedicated to improving their hearing health, regardless of age, I want to take some time to go through the benefits of regular hearing checks and ways to prevent and overcome hearing challenges as you age.
What Are the Benefits of Regular Hearing Tests?
Hearing tests are a tool I use to assess the minute changes to your hearing that you may not be able to recognize. By identifying those changes, you can make any necessary lifestyle changes before your hearing loss takes over your life, such as hearing protection, or determine when you need the help of hearing aids.
You probably remember going to the nurse’s office back in high school or junior high for your hearing screening. Ever wonder why your school went through the trouble to do that?
Because no matter your age, your hearing is a critical necessity to everyday life, and hearing loss has a significant impact on how you communicate, affecting your quality of life and lifestyle.
Regular hearing tests start by establishing a hearing threshold baseline during your first test so that annual or biannual (every two years) testing can track any measurable change in your hearing in the future.
From the data collected during testing, we can take a proactive approach to maintaining your hearing through preventative measures or the use of hearing aids to ensure that you continue to experience uninterrupted hearing health as you grow older.
Should you require the help provided by hearing aids, regular hearing assessments help monitor your progress and allow me to make programming adjustments or recommend hearing aid upgrades when necessary.
Preventing and Overcoming Hearing Challenges
Think with me for just a moment. How important is hearing to what you do at work, when you’re out with friends, or when enjoying family time?
Many people who experience a hearing loss can no longer hear their favorite music with the same clarity and detail they used to. They begin to feel socially isolated due to the embarrassment of not being able to keep up with the conversation because of background noise at a restaurant or when they’re hanging out with friends.
The awkwardness and embarrassment lead those with hearing challenges to disconnect from the people they love and a vibrant social life, and it can even cost them their jobs.
Here is the great news! Regular hearing assessments are your first line of defense against being shut out of the conversation and disconnecting from the life and the people you love.
Better hearing helps make sure that you can continue to keep up with the conversation (or the party!), be better at your job, and continue to take an active role in the lives of those around you.
In general, better hearing health, which may or may not include hearing aids, positively impacts your mental health and improves your hearing.
Professional hearing care by an audiologist or doctor of audiology typically includes regular hearing assessments, ear cleaning, hearing protection, hearing aid wellness assessments, and various other forms of assistive technology.
Not Your Grandparents’ Hearing Aids
Back in the day, hearing aids were seen as unsightly: large, awkward devices in unflattering colors, conspicuous, and obvious. Nobody ever wanted to be caught dead wearing them!
However, today’s hearing aids are often so tiny that unless people know you’re wearing one, they aren’t apt to ever notice them. Some come with smartphone capabilities, meaning you can adjust levels from the comfort of your phone and take advantage of all sorts of apps designed to enhance their performance as you move from one listening environment to another!
The innovative technology applied to hearing instruments is one of the most rapidly advancing sectors of technology, and hearing aids are no longer something awkward and embarrassing to deal with. Hearing aids are becoming, dare I say it, cool.
Better Hearing for All Ages
When should you start ensuring you can enjoy better hearing for as long as possible?
How about right now!?
Whether you’re old, young, or somewhere in between, regular testing, proper hearing aid fitting and programming, and the ongoing care provided by me, Monica Walker, can ensure that you can be a part of the party for as long as possible.
Click here to schedule a comprehensive hearing assessment online or call me at 404-777-5252.
