One of the statistics in the hearing health industry is that only 20% of the people who could be helped by wearing hearing devices have them. This means there are a lot of people who are not protecting their health and who are not getting the most out of their social interactions. The big question is whether you are one of them.
Key Indicators That You Should Check Your Hearing
There are several factors that could indicate that you should consider checking your hearing, all of which are very easy to identify. The most important ones are listed below:
Over 55 and Haven’t Had a Recent Hearing Test?
Are you over 55 and have not had a hearing test from a licensed audiologist in the past year? You may think you are hearing well, but after the age of 55, the likelihood of you benefiting from hearing devices increases significantly. Further, it is important to understand that when your hearing starts to decline (which happens to almost everyone) your brain can work harder to help compensate for the loss, so you might not know that you have a problem.
However, because your brain is working so much harder, it is very likely that you will feel tired at the end of the day. The chances are that you would attribute this to other factors than your hearing. Therefore, the age benchmark is the most obvious of all the indicators as to whether it would be advisable to get a hearing test.
Do Others Ask You to Turn Down the TV?
Do you find that your significant other frequently asks you to turn the television volume down? This is the most common factor that motivates a person to consider getting a hearing test, as it can create meaningful stress between live-in partners.
Hearing devices can be very effective in providing a solution to this problem, as with hearing aids and an accessory called a TV streamer, a person with reduced hearing will be able to listen to the television at any volume they want, and the other person in the room can select their desired volume level or have no sound at all.
Trouble Hearing in Group Settings?
Do you find it difficult to participate actively in group discussions, such as at a noisy restaurant or a group meeting? While most people complain about their ability to have casual discussions in a noisy restaurant, for someone with untreated hearing loss the problem is significantly magnified. Prescription hearing aids can make a huge difference, and there is also an excellent accessory called a table mic which can further improve the ability to hear in these situations.
Saying “What?” More Often?
Do you find yourself saying WHAT frequently when talking with others? Many people with hearing loss do not even realize that are saying “what” frequently, but the people with whom you communicate are generally very aware of it, and might find it to be very annoying.
Avoiding Group Conversations?
Do you find yourself avoiding group discussions because you cannot follow the conversation? This situation is called social isolation and can lead to depression. Most humans are social beings and if we begin to avoid interactions with others, we can start to withdraw which can be very depilating.
Do You Avoid Medical Appointments?
Finally, do you consider yourself the type of person who tends to avoid medical appointments? For example, do you regularly get your eyes checked, have an annual physical exam, or refrain from making an appointment with a dermatologist to check for skin cancer? If you can answer in the positive to this question, it is very likely you have not had an annual hearing exam.
Cost Concerns? Most Insurance Cover It
Some people are reluctant to get an annual hearing test because they do not want to spend money on something that they can easily ignore. However, almost every insurance company will cover 100% of the costs of an annual hearing test.
Hearing Loss and Serious Health Risks
A final word about the treatment of hearing loss that is very important to all of us is that many industry research studies in the past ten years have indicated that people with untreated hearing loss are significantly more likely to get Alzheimer’s, dementia, or depression than their “hearing-corrected “peers, in addition to having 47% more hospital visits.
So do yourself a big favor and schedule a hearing test by calling Fifth Avenue Hearing at (212 301 7779). We provide hearing tests and hearing aids in New York.
Contact us today!
