May marks Better Hearing and Speech Month. Organized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), this campaign focuses on raising awareness about hearing loss. The third most common chronic medical condition, hearing loss affects over 48 million people but it is often undertreated. In fact, less than 1 in 6 people seek treatment for hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss has multifaceted effects – straining communication, relationships, social life, wellness etc. Fortunately, accessing treatment is simple and can transform your health. The theme for this year’s Better Hearing and Speech Month is Connecting People which highlights the range of hearing healthcare resources and services that are available to you.
Recognizing Early Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss typically occurs gradually so it can remain unnoticed for quite some time. This can worsen symptoms and hearing impairment which increases health risks. Being able to recognize the early signs of hearing loss can help you seek treatment early. Common signs include the following:
- Tinnitus which is a buzzing or ringing noise in the ears.
- Sounds are distorted or muffled, making it difficult to hear individual words.
- Having to ask others to repeat themselves or speak louder.
- Needing to turn up the volume on your TV, phone, or other electronic devices.
- Struggling to keep up with a conversation, missing words or parts of what others are saying.
- Frequently saying “huh” or “what” in response to others.
- Avoiding social settings, gatherings, and conversations as much as possible.
- Being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other.
- Difficulty hearing in environments with background noise.
These symptoms can be mild to severe depending on the degree of hearing loss present. This can disrupt daily life by straining communication – an essential way we navigate our environment. Treating hearing loss can alleviate symptoms and prevent further harm to overall health and wellness.
Connecting to Hearing Healthcare Services
There is a vast amount of resources, experts, and services that you can access to better your hearing health. Hearing healthcare services range from diagnosing hearing needs to providing comprehensive support for your hearing health. A few of these services include:
- Hearing evaluations: the first step to address hearing loss is having your hearing capacities fully evaluated. Hearing tests involve a painless process that measures your hearing abilities in each ear. There are a few different types of hearing tests, the most common being Pure Tone Audiometry. This involves wearing headphones while sounds at different frequencies are played and indicating what you can hear. Hearing evaluations identify the degree of hearing loss you are experiencing which informs the most effective way to treat those needs.
- Hearing aid selection and fitting: the most common treatment is hearing aids which are electronic devices that provide the ears and brain with significant support processing sound. There is a wide range of hearing aid options, styles, and features that are designed to provide the best experience. Your hearing healthcare provider will use their expertise to help you navigate your options. Once you have selected your hearing aid, they will ensure that it fits and is programmed to meet your specific hearing needs.
- Maintenance services: hearing healthcare practices often offer maintenance services that help keep your hearing aids in the best shape. Having your hearing aids professionally serviced contributes to their longevity and quality.
- Tinnitus management: one way that tinnitus can be effectively managed is through tinnitus retraining therapy. This is a type of sound therapy that retrains the brain to process tinnitus differently, alleviating its impact.
- Custom hearing protection: another common hearing healthcare service is offering custom hearing protection. This is an optimal way to protect your hearing from loud noise exposure, one of the most common ways hearing is damaged.
These services are among many that provide critical and useful support. This combined with the expertise of a hearing healthcare specialist can transform your hearing health.
Prioritize Your Hearing Health with HEARtoday
Better Hearing and Speech Month is a great time to prioritize your hearing health. You can do this by contacting us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation. This will allow us to get to know you and learn more about your hearing health, we look forward to it!