Whether you made big resolutions that you’ve managed to keep, or you’re generally looking to focus more on what is going to keep you fit, healthy and happy, you might want to consider your hearing health?
Here we bring you our TOP FIVE reasons to make hearing health a priority and help you kick start a great year.
- Mental Health First of all it is important to learn that hearing loss can lead to high levels of stress in your life which can ultimately deteriorate physical health and overall quality of life. It has been observed that people with untreated hearing loss suffer fatigue, depression as well as higher levels of anxiety, social isolation and withdrawal. This is why it is so important to make your hearing health a priority and seek the advice of a hearing health care professional such as an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist as they are the experts in hearing evaluation and the treatment of hearing loss.
- Social Interaction Hearing loss has not only been known to diminish an individual’s quality of life but it can also lead you to feel isolated in social settings such as dinners, parties or family gatherings. Getting your hearing tested should be encouraged for those who suspect a hearing loss. It is a necessary step towards a better quality of life because when we lose our hearing, we can lose our connections to the people who matter in our lives.
- Creating Balance For those who are living with untreated hearing loss, straining to hear all day is hard work! It takes a large amount of energy and mental concentration to hear all day with a less than perfect auditory system. Just imagine trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together but someone forgot to tell you that a few were missing from the box. This extra load on our cognitive system is responsible for increased fatigue and irritability among those with untreated hearing loss but is also linked to an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
- Personal Safety Whether it’s your inability to hear a horn blowing or sirens while driving, an approaching vehicle when crossing the street, or a shout or warning of danger, it is mandatory to be aware of your surroundings and balance your paces accordingly. Untreated hearing loss puts your personal safety, as well as the safety of those around you, at risk. Individuals who suffer a hearing loss, but do not wear hearing aids should consider not just their safety, but that of their family, friends and co-workers too. This is yet another reason why Canadians who have a hearing loss should seek treatment.
- Future Hearing Ability With everything we know today about the negative effects of untreated hearing loss there is one important thing all of us can do to ensure we are hearing as well as we can; get a baseline hearing test! Regular check-ups will lead to early detection and treatment of hearing loss which is by far the best way to lower your risk of developing any of the negative effects discussed above. Moreover, it has been shown that hearing aids can help to slow down cognitive decline as well as slow the progression of further hearing loss.
So now that you’re aware, do not neglect your hearing health. Schedule an appointment with a hearing healthcare clinic to learn more about hearing health today!
