Do I Need an Annual Hearing Test?

It’s important to maintain and monitor your overall wellbeing. Sometimes, this includes scheduling visits with a relevant health professional in your life on an annual basis. And it’s important that you make your hearing health a part of these routine checkups. Many people feel like they only need to see an audiologist when they notice something wrong with their hearing, but often, this allows the issue to advance past a much simpler state.

It’s far better to get your hearing tested on an annual basis. That way, you can establish a baseline and then monitor what your hearing ability is and then figure out whether any interventions are required. Not only does this help you stay privy to any changes, but it also allows you time to discuss preventative measures to avoid damage in the future!

Hearing Loss Can Impact Anyone of Any Age

One common misconception about hearing loss is that it only affects older individuals. But that’s simply not the case; there’s a wide range of risk factors that can cause a person of any age to experience hearing loss. Sure, age is one of those risk factors, but it’s far from the only one.

Environmental factors like exposure to incredibly loud noises or persistent exposure to slightly dangerous noises over an extended period of time can cause hearing loss. It’s also true that some medical conditions and viral infections can result in hearing loss. These are all reasons why having your hearing checked on a yearly basis is so important.

The Consequences of Leaving Hearing Loss Untreated

There are serious consequences that come with leaving hearing loss untreated, and that’s why it’s so important to get your hearing tested on an annual basis. We’re going to take a look at some of the most commonly experienced consequences that come with untreated hearing loss.

• Increased isolation: When you don’t have your hearing loss treated, you might feel increasingly isolated from other people. After all, it’s difficult to participate properly in social situations when you can’t hear what’s going on in the conversation. That leads people to withdraw and generally become more isolated in their life, and that can lead to other problems too.
• Mental health problems: People are known to suffer mental health problems when they’re living with untreated hearing loss. This relates to the way in which people become more isolated when they have hearing loss. That can lead to depression, anxiety in social situations and all kinds of other mental health problems.
• Increased risk of dementia: The impact that poor hearing that never gets treated can damage the brain quite dramatically over time. People who live for a long time with untreated hearing loss become more likely to experience dementia at a later date. That’s obviously a very serious problem and can often be prevented with the right hearing aid devices.
• Problems in the workplace: There are also less severe examples of how untreated hearing loss can impact your life and day to day routines. There are all kinds of problems that can arise in the workplace, for example. When you can’t hear what people are saying, you might be unable to follow instructions from your boss or there might even be safety issues depending on the type of work you do.
• Frustration in the household: It’s also common for people to experience problems with their loved ones at home when they don’t realize that they’re experiencing hearing loss. People might just assume that you’re not listening and being inattentive when, in actual fact, you simply couldn’t hear them.

Tracking Changes with Annual Testing

Your annual hearing test is about assessing changes in your hearing and judging when extra help might be needed. By having tests carried out once a year, you’ll be able to see how your hearing quality is changing as time passes. This gives your audiologist a clearer picture of your hearing.

They’ll be able to tell how slowly or quickly your hearing might be changing, allowing them to make better decisions about your treatment moving forward. Only by having regular tests carried out can the right decisions be made regarding your treatment and hearing aids.

As you can see, it certainly is important to have your hearing tested yearly. So, if you want to schedule a hearing test with a professional team and audiologist you can trust, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the staff at Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center. You can reach us at one of our convenient locations: Tarentum (724) 409-4439 or Vandergrift (724) 567-3233.