If you’re similar to most, you’ve most likely been delaying your hearing test. You might even have had others recommend that you get one but you keep coming up with reasons not to go.
If so, we’re going to try to persuade you to start the new year by finally getting that hearing test. As you’ll notice, getting a hearing test is fast and easy, and if you do have hearing loss, correcting it does wonders for your all-around health and happiness—not to mention it gets everyone off your back.
So here’s our case for why you should arrange for a hearing test right away.
Our top 10 reasons to get a hearing test are:
1. The hearing test is pain-free and takes under an hour – it’s simple to set up an appointment, and getting your hearing tested requires less time than it takes to shop for groceries. Rather than having it habitually 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 verifies that your hearing is normal, you can inform 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 in most cases not the first to notice. That means 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 becomes worse over time and is best treated promptly – the hearing you lose cannot be entirely recovered, but hearing aids can help reverse the process and stimulate the areas of the brain involved in speech and sound processing.
5. Hearing loss may be an indication of other health problems – hearing loss is usually caused by direct exposure to loud noise or by the normal aging process. But occasionally, hearing loss is a manifestation of a more serious underlying cardiovascular or neurological condition. In any event, your hearing health is heavily connected to your overall well-being.
6. You can protect and enhance your mind and memory – recent studies by Johns Hopkins University have linked hearing loss to cognitive decline, memory issues, and even dementia. But a recent study has also demonstrated that increasing sound stimulation to the brain may help to keep your mind sharp.
7. You can enhance your mood – researchers have found a strong connection between hearing loss and depression, but research also shows that individuals with hearing loss that use hearing aids have less depressive symptoms and greater social engagement.
8. You’ll be more outgoing and social – If you do have hearing loss and can be helped by hearing aids, you might notice a difference in your social behavior. Those with healthier hearing tend to be more outgoing and less restrained in groups, which heightens both mood and physical health.
9. You’ll have much better conversations – hearing loss typically impacts speech comprehension to the greatest degree, interfering with conversations. If you’re tired of having to say “what” all of the time, it might be time for a hearing test.
10. You can earn more money – a study by the Better Hearing Institute found that individuals with hearing loss, on average, earn $12,000 less per year compared to those with normal hearing, based on the degree of hearing loss. However, the study also found that the use of hearing aids canceled out these income effects by 50 percent.
As the research continues to come in, it will only confirm how crucial hearing health is to our overall quality of life. So if you care about your health, your relationships, and your overall 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 for your hearing test today!
