Everyone knows that as we age, our body changes. These changes may be frustrating and aggravating. There isn’t much you can do to change the aging process, but there are many things you can do to help ensure that its impact on you is lessened. One example of this is the early detection of hearing loss. The sooner you admit that there could be a problem, the sooner you can start working to prevent it. This can be the key to healthy aging for many people, both men and women, who are in their prime.
Taking Care of Your Body
Much the same as we all know it is important to visit the dentist for checkups and to eye doctors for an examination; our ear’s health is important, too. However, we often ignore the signs when it comes to our hearing. We may not realize that we are asking others to repeat themselves more often or that we are unable to hear the television as well as we once did. It is not as obvious as a sore tooth or no longer being able to see our phone, tablet, pc, or book. Often, it is just a minor annoyance to us that we blame on background noises or not being able to see the person speaking to us at that moment. The truth is, it could be the earliest sign of a major problem in the future.
Why Your Hearing Matters
Our ears are very intricate organs. Loud noises or a lack of stimulation can both cause damage to its very sensitive nerves. Your brain will do what it can to compensate for any damage that you may have, but adapting does not always mean that you can hear clearly. When you are unable to hear well, you may miss out on important things that are being said to you. This can make it hard for you to talk to friends, family, colleagues, and more. Can you imagine being in an important meeting and missing out on half of what is being said? It can be exhausting to try and keep up when you are unable to hear things clearly.
Your Future Health
Once your hearing is damaged, you cannot get it repaired. The damage to the nerves will only continue to increase. Your brain will continue to try to live without the sounds that it should be hearing. If you wait until you have advanced hearing loss, you could suffer in more ways than you realize. Some people become depressed because they feel like they are becoming distant from their family. Anxiety may also become a problem, because you may feel that everyone is talking, but not to you. Cognitive function can be a problem for people who cannot hear well. There is proof that there is a definite connection between dementia and hearing loss. Heart disease can also be caused by hearing loss, because of inadequate blood flow.
Beat the Statistics
Research has shown that 1-out-of 3 Americans between the ages of 65-74 have hearing loss to some degree. As we age to 75+ those numbers increase. The earliest signs of a potential problem can start to appear around 40 but may appear even earlier. Take advantage of a free hearing test in Lubbock this “Better Hearing Month.” Cornerstone Audiology is the most trusted and professional hearing provider in West Texas and the friendly team are offering the community free hearing screenings throughout May. Click here to schedule yours today.
Dr. Hubik is the owner and founder of one of West Texas’ most trusted and professional hearing providers, Cornerstone Audiology. She received her bachelor of science degree in communication disorders as well as her doctorate of audiology from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). In her youth, Dr. Hubik became interested in helping people with hearing loss to communicate more effectively and therefore pursued a degree in this field. Dr. Hubik was born and raised in Anton, Texas and appreciates working with the people of West Texas. She and her team are proud to serve the hearing needs of their community.