The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that anyone over the age of 50, regardless of their hearing status, should have their hearing screened annually (at least for a baseline).
According to the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), about 36 million Americans are experiencing hearing loss. Of these hearing losses, about 90% of them can be treated with hearing aids.
You may suspect you have a hearing loss if you have a decreased sensitivity to sound, and can answer yes to all or most of these questions:
Do you have trouble understanding others’ speech, where their voices sound muffled or are difficult to understand?
Do you find that you are often asking others to speak more clearly or to repeat themselves?
Do you find that you are having more disagreements or misunderstandings with family members and friends?
Do you withdraw from conversations and avoid social situations?
Do you find the TV or radio volume is too low?
Hearing loss affecting adults is typically associated with aging, but can also be due to hereditary factors, noise exposure (occupational and recreational), viral and bacterial infections, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medications.
According to the Better Hearing Institute, studies suggest that untreated hearing loss can lead to some or all of the following:
If you suspect you have a hearing loss, you should seek professional advice as soon as possible, because some hearing problems can be quite serious as they may be due to other related illnesses or certain medications.
At SCENT, our audiologists will identify and measure the type and degree of your hearing loss and will recommend treatment options that best fit your needs and lifestyle.
Contact us today for your hearing health needs. We offer on-site hearing tests, hearing aids, and hearing protection. For your convenience, you may schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (661) 259-2500.
