Peter studied hearing aid fitting at the world headquarters of Starkey Labs. He was able to have hands on training with the company’s founder, Bill Austin. He has also undergone advanced training in the smallest, nearly invisible style hearing aids, and has expanded his education by traveling to Denmark to learn directly from European hearing aid manufacturers. He continues to attend conferences and training seminars to stay current on the rapidly evolving world of hearing aid technology.
Latest posts by Peter Lucier, HIS (see all)
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Think back on the year – did you tend to your hearing health this year? If you did, congratulations! If you didn’t, it’s never too late!
In recent years, there has been a rise in hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third most common medical condition in the United States, affecting many older Americans. For those aged 65 and above, one in three experience hearing loss. The prevalence rises among those aged 75 and above, with 50% of people in this age range experiencing some degree of hearing loss.
With these statistics, it’s no wonder that hearing specialists recommend that people begin to take annual hearing tests when they reach age 50.
Here are a few reasons you should schedule an annual hearing test in the new year.
The sooner you address it, the better!
On average, people wait seven years from the time they first experience changes in their hearing to the time they decide to take a hearing test. Meanwhile, there can be negative consequences to the auditory process during this time. Our sense of hearing happens in the brain. When our ears receive and process sounds, they travel as neural signals through pathways to the auditory center in our brains. Depending on the type, hearing loss interferes with steps in this process.
Over time, if hearing loss is left untreated, these neural pathways begin to dull, such as dirt roads with lack of use. When people finally decide to treat hearing loss, the transition to an improved hearing becomes more difficult. With new hearing aids, there is always a period of transition, but the sooner you address your hearing loss, the better you will hear sounds you’ve long missed!
The consequences of untreated hearing loss
Comorbidity is a term that is used to describe medical conditions that are related to one another. Untreated hearing loss is linked to several different comorbidities.
In a study from Johns Hopkins University, researchers found that people with untreated hearing loss were more likely to develop dementia. This was due, in part, to a heavier cognitive load placed on the brain when it is struggling to make sense of muffled sound signals. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids gives the brain a clearer signal. It thus reduces effort on the brain, leaving room for other cognitive processing.
Hearing specialists have also found links between untreated hearing loss and increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Hearing loss interferes with our ability to communicate with others, as it makes speech recognition a challenge. As a result, when hearing loss is left untreated, people tend to develop coping mechanisms to avoid communication. This could begin with removing themselves from a few social engagements here and there to complete isolation in the long term. As such, untreated hearing loss has a negative consequence on one’s emotional well-being.
Because our auditory processes happen in the same part of our brain as our balance systems, there has been a link between untreated hearing loss and a higher rate of falls. This leads to higher rates of hospitalizations, which has been found in studies between people with untreated hearing loss and those who use hearing aids or have normal hearing. Essentially, your sense of hearing is linked to your safety and security.
Treat hearing loss, and you could increase your earning power.
Untreated hearing loss has been found to interfere with your interpersonal relationships, but did you know it can trickle over to your professional life as well? People with untreated hearing loss tend to have more difficulty communicating at work, leading to performance and productivity issues. Studies have shown that employees with untreated hearing loss tend to make less income than their colleagues with normal hearing or colleagues who treat hearing loss with the prescription of hearing aids.
Time to get your January appointments booked!
If you’ve been experiencing changes in your hearing, and you haven’t yet taken a hearing test, now’s the time. Similarly, consider scheduling a hearing test in the new year if you use hearing aids but haven’t had your ears tested in a while. Our hearing abilities are constantly changing. By taking annual hearing tests, you will be able to monitor your abilities for optimal health. Contact us today for a consultation!