People of all ages lose their hearing, but for some strange reason most people associate loss of hearing with ageing and there is resistance to acknowledging that there is a problem. As we get older, changes in the inner ear cause slow but steady hearing loss.
Research shows that people lose their hearing long before they are aware and that it often takes up to seven years from first acknowledgement to actually buying a hearing aid. Hearing loss comes on slowly, which means that often family, friends and coworkers are likely to recognize it before you do. Though it might be frustrating to have to listen to their caring advice, a hearing test is the first step toward making a decision that will not only result in better hearing health but also improve your quality of life.
The only way to know the truth about your hearing is a non-invasive comprehensive hearing assessment. We often live in denial and many of us put off hearing tests. It’s important to know that 54% of Canadians aged 40 to 79 (8.2 million) have at least mild hearing loss. Worst of all, leaving your hearing challenges untreated does extensive damage and leads to a more advanced level of hearing loss as well as other negative health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and balance disorders.
In a recent study published in The Lancet on the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline, researchers found that of the participants who were at higher risk of dementia, those who got hearing aids slowed their cognitive decline by 48 per cent over the study period.
It’s essential for adults over the age of 30 to check their hearing every few years, and more frequently once you turn 50. Your primary health care provider will conduct a hearing screening and if they think you have hearing loss, you’ll have hearing tests to check whether you have hearing loss and how severe it is. You may be referred to an audiologist for further tests.
For more information on age-related hearing loss see the following links: