With nearly 1 in 5 people having some degree of hearing loss, you or someone you know may be navigating symptoms of impaired hearing. Over 48 million people have hearing loss, making it the third most common medical condition people live with today. Though it is common, hearing loss is widely underdiagnosed. Only a third of people who could benefit from treatment, receive it. Acknowledging the reality of hearing loss can be tough but it is important to know that there is a wide range of hearing healthcare services, resources, and solutions that are available to you. Treating hearing loss offers life-changing benefits that allow people to live full and active lives.
Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss
It takes an average of 7 years for people to address their hearing loss symptoms. Untreated symptoms can take a major toll on quality of life and health. Hearing loss that remains untreated not only worsens impairment, but it can strain hearing and communication which are essential ways we navigate everyday life. This can affect relationships, social life, work performance, and health. Extensive research shows that untreated hearing loss can increase a number of health risks. This includes depressive symptoms, cognitive decline, falls, and accidental injuries.
People’s relationships can also suffer when hearing loss remains untreated. People often report feeling ignored and unheard by their loved one with hearing loss. This highlights that hearing loss not only impacts you but also the people around you. These feelings can lead to frustration, tension, and distance in relationships. Having conversations, spending quality time, and engaging in social activities can become tough with untreated hearing loss. While it can be stressful or overwhelming to acknowledge changes to your hearing health, there are so many benefits on the other side!
Recognizing Hearing Loss Symptoms
Hearing loss typically occurs gradually so symptoms can remain unnoticed for quite some time. Being able to recognize signs of hearing loss can help you identify what you are experiencing and propel you to take action. Common symptoms include the following:
- Tinnitus: a buzzing or ringing noise in the ears.
- Sounds are slurred or muffled.
- Difficulty hearing in environments with background noise.
- Struggling to keep up with conversations.
- Turning up the volume on the TV or other electronic devices.
- Lip reading to identify individual words.
- Pretending to hear, experiencing miscommunication, feeling confused during conversations.
- Frequently asking others to repeat what they’ve said, speak louder, and/or slower.
- Finding yourself saying “huh” or “what” in response to others.
- Keeping conversations as short as possible.
These symptoms can be mild to profound, depending on the degree of hearing loss present. Hearing loss symptoms make it tough to engage in conversations so people often avoid them as much as possible. This includes skipping out on social events and spending less time with loved ones. Social withdrawal is a common symptom of hearing loss and this can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms as well as impact relationships. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is important have your hearing health evaluated
Prioritize Your Hearing Health Today
You can prioritize your hearing health today with one simple step: scheduling an appointment for a hearing consultation. This involves having your hearing comprehensively assessed by a hearing healthcare specialist. Hearing tests involve a painless and noninvasive process that measures hearing capacities in both ears. This identifies any hearing loss you are epeirogenic to the degree of impairment in each ear. Once your hearing needs are identified, your hearing healthcare provider can tailor treatment to meet your specific needs.
The most common treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids. These are electronic devices that are designed to absorb, amplify, and process speech as well as sound. This alleviates symptoms and maximizes hearing capacity. With the ample support hearing aids provide, people are better able to hear and communicate in everyday settings. This allows people to engage in conversations, social activities, work, and much more with greater ease and capacity. Treatment not only improves hearing but also strengthens communication, relationships, and overall health. These benefits transform quality of life and support people living fully without hearing loss being a barrier. Contact us today to prioritize your hearing health and wellness.