Early Hearing Testing: Why It Matters

Hearing tests are standard for babies and young children as they help audiologists detect and diagnose any issues early on. This means that a suitable treatment can be recommended as soon as possible, and this can help to prevent any further related health complications. Early hearing testing is just as important in adults, however. 

Although commonly associated with older adults, hearing loss can affect adults of any age and the earlier it’s detected the better. There could be many causes and it’s essential to get to the heart of the matter. An audiologist can then suggest the right solution to help improve your quality of life overall. Here are a few reasons why early testing is so important.

Detect and Diagnose Any Issues

An audiologist can perform a range of different hearing tests in both adults and children to detect and diagnose any issues. In the case of young children, they may be tested several times from within a few weeks of birth to five years old. There are several reasons why a child may have hearing problems from infections and illness, injuries or even a build-up of wax caused by a common cold or glue ear. An audiologist will be able to determine the cause and suggest a suitable treatment.

Adults also need routine hearing tests, particularly if they have noticed any changes in their hearing. Tell-tale signs could be having an increased difficulty understanding conversations or having to increase the volume on electronic devices. There could also be a number of underlying causes, from an ear infection to age-related hearing loss. The early these issues are caught, however, will help an audiologist get any other inner-related symptoms under control such as tinnitus or vertigo.

Increases Your Safety

Hearing loss can affect your safety. You may notice a loss of balance or simply a lack of awareness of your environment. This could lead to falls or other accidents. Balance and hearing are connected as the inner ear plays a part in both. 

If you have experienced any balance issues such as a vertigo an audiologist will be able to help you get to the bottom of this. It’s also important to find a suitable treatment for hearing loss as this will increase your safety when you go out and about. A hearing aid will allow you to pick up more background noise coming from other people or traffic, for example.

Adjust to Your Hearing Aid

The earlier you are given the right treatment for any hearing issue, the better, as you will be able to adjust more quickly. If you are fitted with a new hearing aid, you can spend time adjusting to different situations and practice using the different settings. The sooner you start getting used to it the sooner you’ll be able to enjoy social situations and get on with everyday tasks with confidence.

Boosts Your Mental Health

Unfortunately, hearing loss can have a negative impact on your mental health. It can often result in a lack of self-esteem, feeling of a loss of independence, loneliness and depression. The right treatment, however, can help you bounce back. Nowadays hearing aids are compatible with electronic devices such as smartphones, TVs and assisted listening features in virtual communication tools. This has helped to greatly improve the quality of life of those with hearing loss, especially if they live alone.

Gives You Peace of Mind

The main reason early hearing testing matters is that it will give you peace of mind. It’s always better to get to the root of the problem earlier on. This way you can find an appropriate solution as soon as possible. If you are concerned about your hearing or that of a loved one an audiologist can help. 

They will be able to carry out all the necessary tests and diagnose any hearing or inner ear-related issues. They will then go through your options for treatment and suggest the best solutions for you. As part of a personalized treatment plan your audiologist will provide ongoing support, including tips and advice on how to adjust to a hearing aid. With regular checkups, you can be proactive about your hearing health.

At Advanced Hearing Services, our audiologists are available for hearing tests along with help and information about any hearing-related issues. If you’re looking for a hearing test or consultation you can book an appointment at your earliest convenience. If you would like to learn more about Advanced Hearing Services, contact us today at (970) 449-0592.