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It can be tough to admit you are losing your hearing and need to get tested, especially if you could have done something to prevent it. However, it is not good to dwell on this negative thought since deafness naturally occurs in the general population. According to Statistics Canada, an estimated 54 percent of individuals aged 40-79 suffer from hearing impairment to a degree, meaning it can range from mild to severe. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address this problem.
Undergoing a hearing test is necessary to gauge where your ears are on the spectrum of picking up sound, particularly audible speech, everyday noise, and even music. The problem is you may be hesitant to get checked by an audiologist or ear doctor because maybe you are still in denial about your condition. To better understand for yourself if testing is necessary, consider the following determining factors:
Do you keep asking “What did you say?” or “Come again? Please repeat what you said.” to people you are talking to but oddly get puzzled looks from them? While it can merely be a sign of selective hearing, failing to pick up on in-person conversations is another thing altogether. It can be more concerning when you are with other people. You hear the same words, but you either didn’t pick up on anything at all or hardly heard a few of the spoken words.
Normally, you can hear things up to 20 hertz, like secret gossip through whispering. So, if you find yourself asking for individuals to repeat what they just said multiple times, and they were generally understood by others, a hearing test is necessary. The audiologist may even use speech or word recognition testing to determine how far gone your hearing may be, allowing them to form an effective diagnosis and recommendations for your benefit.
Nowadays, many multimedia apps and mobile devices have built-in notifications or visual indicators to indicate that what you are currently listening to is too loud. You may even get warning messages telling you to reduce the volume since prolonged exposure to it can lead to temporary hearing loss. Unfortunately, most would fail to recognize the importance of these precautions, which leads to severe or permanent deafness.
If you have gotten similar notifications or complaints from others around you that what you are listening to is too loud but cannot see to hear things properly, it means that you need a hearing test immediately. You may also have to make major life changes to prevent your ears’ condition from getting worse.
Going to noisy events under moderation is alright, like concerts, parties, and other social gatherings. What you should be wary of is when you would rather be elsewhere because of hearing problems, primarily while socializing and engaging with any live entertainment or recorded music.
These issues are common among patients that need further assessment on their hearing because they may have a hard time when exposed to more than one sound at a high intensity. If you experience this, see your local hearing clinic as soon as possible.
Going through hearing loss is not something that you would want to go through without any professional assistance, especially since not addressing it can lead to a worse outcome. So, you have to consider the determining factors mentioned above to determine if you need to get tested for deafness by an audiologist or ear doctor. Meanwhile, if you are still clueless about your condition and want further insights, consider consulting with experts like us!
Fraser Valley Beltone can provide you with reliable hearing tests in Abbotsford through our team of professional audiologists and state-of-the-art facilities. We take a personalized approach to patient care by ensuring each one gets the attention and recommendations needed to either adjust to this transitional point in life or learn to adapt to their preexisting condition. Visit us today!