If these past months have taught us anything, it’s the importance of staying connected, safe
and informed — and hearing is key to all three!
Hearing well makes it easier to stay in touch with friends and family, it helps you feel safe, healthy and in control of your life and hearing helps ensure you stay up to date on ever-hanging news and information. Sometimes however it can be hard to tell if you're losing your hearing and other people may notice it before you do.
Hearing loss is sometimes sudden, but more often it happens gradually and you may not notice it at first. Early signs can include difficulty in hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places. Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves or listening to music or watching TV with the volume higher than other people need? Difficulty hearing on the phone, finding it hard to keep up with a conversation, or feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening can all be other indicators.
Recent research has also shown that not addressing hearing loss can also have wider health risks with untreated hearing loss in middle age leading to increased risk of cognitive decline and early onset dementia. One study, published in The Lancet, highlighted a new diagnosis in people aged 45 to 65 more than doubled their chances of developing the condition. This rises to three times if the hearing loss is considered to be ‘moderate’, and five times as great if it is severe.
While society seems to accept that hearing loss is part of getting older, 4 in 10 people over 50 and 7 in 10 over the age of 70* have some form of loss, it doesn’t mean we have to live with its consequences or that nothing can be done to help. In fact, by addressing hearing needs, it could be argued that you are actively keeping yourself younger.
If you suspect that you may have a hearing loss making an appointment with a qualified audiologist can quickly get you on a new path to improved hearing. A one hour investment of your time may be the best thing you do this year to improve the quality of your life.
With 28 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk arranging a hearing test with the award winning Hearing Care Centre is easy so book your appointment today.
*RNID