If you’re like most, you’ve likely been delaying your hearing test. You might even have had others advise that you get one but you keep coming up with excuses not to go.
If that’s the case, we’re going to attempt to convince you to start the new year by finally getting that hearing test. As you’ll discover, having your hearing tested is fast and easy, and if you do have hearing loss, correcting it does wonders for your overall health and happiness—not to mention it gets everyone off your back.
So here’s our case for why you should schedule a hearing test as soon as possible.
Our top 10 reasons to get your hearing tested are:
1. The hearing test is pain-free and takes less than an hour – it’s simple to book an appointment, and getting your hearing tested requires less time than it takes to go shopping for groceries. As opposed to having it constantly in the back of your mind, call today and get it over with.
2. If your hearing is normal you can rub it in – if the hearing test demonstrates that your hearing is normal, you can tell your family members and friends that they really ARE mumbling.
3. You may, in fact, have hearing loss and not recognize it – hearing loss builds up slowly, so the person affected is almost always not the first to notice. That means that there’s a good chance your family and friends were correct when they suggested that you get a hearing test in the first place.
4. Hearing loss gets worse over time and is best treated promptly – the hearing you lose cannot be completely restored, but hearing aids can help reverse the process and stimulate the parts of the brain involved with speech and sound processing.
5. Hearing loss may be a sign of other health problems – hearing loss is commonly caused by direct exposure to loud noise or by the normal aging process. But occasionally, hearing loss is a manifestation of a more dangerous underlying cardiovascular or neurological condition. In any event, your hearing health is deeply connected to your overall well-being.
6. You can preserve and enhance your mind and memory – recent studies by Johns Hopkins University have linked hearing loss to cognitive decline, memory problems, and even dementia. But a recent study has also established that increasing sound stimulation to the brain may help to keep your mind sharp.
7. You can enhance your mood – researchers have discovered a strong association between hearing loss and depression, but research also shows that people with hearing loss that use hearing aids have less depressive symptoms and heightened social engagement.
8. You’ll be more social and outgoing – If you do have hearing loss and can be helped by hearing aids, you may observe a difference in your social behavior. Those with healthier hearing have been found to be more extroverted and less restrained in groups, which boosts both mood and physical health.
9. You’ll have much better conversations – hearing loss normally impacts speech comprehension to the greatest degree, interfering with conversations. If you’re fed up with having to say “what” constantly, it might be time for a hearing test.
10. You can earn more money – a study by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that those with hearing loss, on average, earn $12,000 less per year when compared with those with normal hearing, depending on the degree of hearing loss. However, the study also found that the use of hearing aids offset these income effects by 50 percent.
As the research continues to pour in, it will only verify how fundamental hearing health is to our total quality of life. So if you care about your health, your relationships, and your total well-being, now is the time to take action.
So how about it? For the benefit of your health and happiness and for those around you, arrange your hearing test today!