You would be surprised to “hear” how many people have never had the hearing tested. A baseline hearing test is important for more than just establishing the level of hearing loss you suffer from, it helps determine what is considered normal for your hearing. This may seem a big backwards, but baseline hearing tests are crucial for understanding when and how your hearing has changed on an individual level. Not everyone’s hearing is exactly the same, and a baseline hearing test will help hearing specialists determine just how much your hearing has changed over time.
Did you know that a baseline hearing test is recommended as soon as you turn 50? This is because roughly 25% of Americans between the ages of 55 and 65 will start to experience hearing loss at some point, mainly due to age. As you surpass 65 years old, your chances of suffering from hearing loss jump up to 50%. If you haven’t had a baseline hearing test, you won’t be able to tell just how much your hearing has changed during these years. No two people suffer from hearing loss the exact same way, meaning in order to have the most personalized treatment available, you have to know the cause of your hearing loss and the degree of it.
A baseline hearing test will simply determine what your normal level of hearing is and from here your hearing specialist will set up follow up appointments to monitor any changes. If you do experience a change in your hearing, your hearing specialist will first look to determine the cause of your hearing impairment. While most hearing impairment causes are irreversible, some cases such as earwax buildup or injury related hearing loss can be reversed. If it is determined that your cause of hearing loss is due to aging or another irreversible cause, your doctor may recommend that you be fit for a hearing aid. Many people get nervous when they think about getting their first hearing aid, but with the technology available today, hearing aids have come a long way! They can be paired with smartphones and other Bluetooth enabled devices, offer faster and stronger sound processors, and some are even invisible to others. While this may still seem like a scary step to you, remember that the faster you treat hearing loss, the less likely you are to suffer from additional side effects such as depression, social anxiety, and cognitive decline.
