Most people who have hearing loss aren’t born with it. Instead, hearing loss creeps up on us over time, usually caused by exposure to loud noises, aging, or some combination of the two.
Statistics show that the prevalence of hearing loss doubles for every decade of life, which explains why one out of three people 65-74 have hearing loss, nearly half over 75 have it, and four out of five people 85+ have hearing loss.
In other words, for most of us, hearing loss is normal and natural—just part of living a long, eventful life.
In this blog, we’ll walk through the eight things you should do if and when hearing loss happens to you.
1. Get your hearing tested
If you think you have hearing loss—either by exhibiting common signs, which you can find here, or because your spouse, friends, coworkers or family members keep questioning your hearing ability—you should get your hearing tested.
To do that, you can start with an online hearing test (take our free one here)—or you can visit a hearing care professional to get a thorough, definitive hearing evaluation.
If you don’t have a hearing care professional yet, simply reach out for a list of providers in your area.
2. Choose between ignoring it…
If it turns out you have hearing loss, you have a choice—you can ignore it and deal with the challenges, or you can treat it.
Some of the challenges of hearing loss are subtle and barely noticeable, like needing things to be repeated, or missing out on small everyday sounds.
Some are more obvious and impactful, like mishearing important information, or feeling left out of conversations and activities.
Still others can be profound, health-related issues, like how hearing loss is linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, falls and hospitalizations, social isolation, and even dementia.
…or treating it
But doctors and scientists from institutions including Johns Hopkins Medicine and Columbia University have long noted that treating hearing loss can help with many of these challenges. And studies have shown that for people with hearing loss, using a hearing aid is associated with a reduced risk of falls, depression, anxiety and dementia.
Of course, we don't need doctors and scientists to tell us how much more engaged, connected, and happy people are when they can hear their best—hearing aid wearers tell us that!
3. Visit a hearing care professional
When you are ready to treat your hearing loss—ideally sooner, before structural changes occur in your brain as you age—you can start by talking to your doctor or general practitioner. Or, go directly to a hearing care professional, like an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor), audiologist or hearing aid specialist.
4. Get to the bottom of your hearing loss
Your appointment with a hearing care professional is your chance to get all your questions answered about your hearing loss. While not every practice or clinic will do things exactly the same, you should expect some common procedures when you go in for your first visit.
- Fill out paperwork: This includes intake papers with health history and hearing questionnaire.
- Complete a hearing evaluation: This typically includes a visual inspection of your ears and a hearing test in a sound booth.
- Review your audiogram: The results of your test will be in the form of an audiogram, which is a graph that measures your specific hearing loss.
- Discuss treatment options and next steps: This may include a technology demonstration and hearing aid recommendation.
5. Ask to try hearing aids
If hearing loss is confirmed during your appointment, hearing aids will most likely be recommended. Hearing aids are by far the most common way to treat hearing loss. They can help a majority of people who have hearing issues, especially if the hearing aids have been fit by an experienced professional, and programmed and customized to the individual’s unique hearing and lifestyle needs.
Most states require a 30- to 60-day trial period for hearing aids. And even in states that don’t, most hearing care professionals will offer it. This is an ideal opportunity to try them for yourself and experience the difference they can make in your everyday life.
6. Request ones that are tailored to you
Hearing aids are not one-size-fits-all. That’s why getting them in person from a licensed hearing care professional is the way to go. The two of you will work closely to select the right hearing aids for you, which will be based on many factors including your degree of loss, personal style and feature preferences, how active you are, and more.
We’re admittedly biased, but we recommend you ask to try a pair of Edge AI hearing aids, our best-sounding, most advanced hearing aids yet.
7. Experience the difference they make
Once you get your hearing aids, take advantage of the trial period and wear them at home, outside, during work, while watching TV or enjoying leisure activities, and around your friends and loved ones.
See and experience for yourself why so many hearing aid wearers say that wearing them changed their life and how they wish they had treated their hearing loss much, much sooner.
8. Hear better and live better!
Then, after the trial period is over, decide for yourself—go back to the way it was:
OR
Experience the way sound colors your life with more meaningful moments, deeper connections with others, and the all-encompassing joy that comes with hearing your best life.
If hearing loss is making life more challenging or less fun, now is a good time to do something about it.
If you’re ready to experience how hearing aids can change your life and want to find a hearing care professional you can trust, we can help. Schedule an appointment with a licensed hearing care professional today. If you don’t have one, reach out to our team at Starkey to generate a list of providers near you.