If you’re similar to most, you’ve probably been delaying your hearing test. You may even have had others recommend that you get one but you keep coming up with excuses 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 see, getting a hearing test is fast and easy, and if you do have hearing loss, addressing it does wonders for your health and happiness—not to mention it gets everyone off your back.
So here’s our case for why you should arrange a hearing test as soon as possible.
Our top 10 reasons to get a hearing test are:
1. The hearing test is pain-free and takes less than an hour – it’s easy to arrange 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 might, in fact, have hearing loss and not recognize it – hearing loss develops gradually, so the person impacted is in most cases not the first to notice. That means that there’s a good chance your loved ones were correct when they recommended that you get a hearing test in the first place.
4. Hearing loss gets worse over time and is best treated early – the hearing you lose cannot be totally 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 an indication 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 either case, your hearing health is heavily linked to your overall well-being.
6. You can protect and improve 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 shown that maximizing sound stimulation to the brain may help to keep your mind sharp.
7. You can boost your mood – researchers have found a strong association between hearing loss and depression, but research also demonstrates 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 may observe an alteration in your social habits. People with better hearing have been found to be more outgoing and less restrained in groups, which enhances both mood and physical health.
9. You’ll have much better conversations – hearing loss commonly impacts speech comprehension the most, interfering with conversations. If you’re fed up with having to say “what” all of the time, it might be time for a hearing test.
10. You can make more money – a study by the Better Hearing Institute discovered that those with hearing loss, on average, earn $12,000 less per year compared to those with normal hearing, contingent 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 vital hearing health is to our overall quality of life. So if you care about your health, your relationships, and your total well-being, this is the time to take action.
So how about it? For the benefit of your health and happiness and for those around you, schedule your hearing test today!
