Why It’s Important to Schedule a Hearing Test this Fall

With fall on the way, many people are looking forward to cooler weather, the leaves changing color and the run-up to Christmas. However, it’s also an excellent time to schedule a hearing test. The purpose of hearing tests is to find evidence of hearing loss. Hearing loss can have many effects, including feeling socially isolated, cognitive decline and loss of independence, so early diagnosis is essential.

Hearing tests work by measuring various parts of your ear to find out which aren’t functioning optimally. Exams can check your eardrum, the ability of the small bones in your ear to communicate sound information and the strength of the signal from your cochlea to the brain’s auditory processing center. Once the results come through, audiologists then recommend various treatments based on their findings, including hearing aids.

So, with that said, here are some of the reasons why it is essential to schedule a hearing test this fall.

Early Detection of Hearing Loss

The first reason it is important to schedule a hearing test this fall is early detection of hearing loss. Discovering a problem early is superior to waiting several years for a diagnosis. If you leave it until later, you might be putting yourself at risk of tinnitus, cognitive decline and mental health problems.

Unfortunately, most people don’t attend an audiologist regularly to find out if they have hearing loss. Consequently, their hearing declines before they seek help. Many people wait more than eight years after the onset of hearing loss before visiting an audiologist. You can change this by visiting an audiologist every fall, particularly if you are in a high-risk group. Adding to your calendar at this time of year means you can get any treatment you require before the festive season.

Being Ready for Education or Work

Fall is also back-to-school time. It marks the end of the summer vacation period and the beginning of a new academic year or the return to the office. For this reason, it is the perfect time to go for a hearing test. Ensuring you can hear well sets you up for success in academic and professional life. For instance, suppose you are going to university this fall. Dealing with hearing loss will help you listen to lecturers and classmates, improving your learning.

The same is true at work. Understanding and interpreting colleagues accurately improves your status and chances of promotion or success.

Improved Safety

Scheduling a hearing test this fall is also essential for personal safety. Being unable to hear puts you at a higher risk of accidents. For instance, living with hearing loss means you are less likely to hear oncoming traffic or sirens. It also means you may miss other people warning you verbally about immediate threats in the environment.

Better Cognitive Health

Another reason for scheduling a hearing test this fall is that it could put you on the path to better cognitive health. Detecting existing hearing loss improves your social interactions, making it less likely you will retreat into isolation and depression. Knowing that you can hear other people in conversations encourages you to be more outgoing and to enjoy them more. Properly adjusted hearing aids reduce the need to ask people to repeat themselves or speak up.

Enjoying Fall Sounds

You might also want to schedule a hearing test to ensure you can hear fall sounds. Being hard of hearing can make it challenging to hear crackling bonfires or rustling leaves.

Prevent Additional Complications

A hearing test can also help you avoid further complications, even if you believe you already have hearing loss. For example, you can get properly calibrated hearing aids to stimulate your brain, reducing the risk of tinnitus.

Correct Existing Hearing Aid Settings

Finally, you might want to schedule a hearing test this fall to adjust your hearing aid settings. Hearing loss can evolve. For example, a new test may reveal further loss of hearing in high-pitch tones. In that case, your audiologist will adjust your device to amplify more sounds in this frequency range. If you have hearing loss or are over the age of 60, it’s a good idea to schedule a hearing test every year to track the progress of your condition. And what better time to do it than in the fall?

To schedule a hearing test, get in touch with Hearing & Balance Centers of West Tennessee. Call us today at Jackson (731) 256-5973 or Memphis at (901) 201-6761.