Celebrate World Hearing Day: Ear and Hearing Care for All!

Did you know that March 3rd is World Hearing Day? The World Health Organization (WHO) organizes this international campaign to raise awareness about hearing loss and the solutions available to transform hearing health. Hearing loss is a pervasive medical condition, impacting nearly 1 in 5 people. An estimated 15% of adults have some degree of impaired hearing in the United States. But it still remains undertreated and untreated hearing loss can have multifaceted effects on everyday life and health. Symptoms that remain untreated can strain communication, relationships, social life, work, and health. This highlights the importance of intervening and seeking treatment as early as possible. 

This year’s theme for World Hearing Day is Ear and Hearing Care for All which emphasizes the importance of accessing the wide range of hearing healthcare services, resources, and solutions that are available to you. A great way to participate in World Hearing Day is to schedule an appointment for a hearing test!

Recognizing Hearing Loss Symptoms 

Hearing loss impacts over 48 million people. But only a third of people who could benefit from treatment, actually receive it. There tends to be a delay in treatment which can worsen impairment. Being able to recognize symptoms can help you intervene early. Common symptoms include the following: 

• Tinnitus: a buzzing or ringing noise in one or both ears that only you can hear. 
• Sounds are muffled or distorted. 
• Struggling to keep up with conversations, especially in places with background noise (restaurants for example). 
• Lip reading to help identify individual words. 
• Frequently asking others to repeat something, speak louder, and/or sleep slower. 
• Pretending to hear to get through a conversation. 
• Finding yourself replying with “huh” or “what”. 
• Turning up the volume on the TV, phone, and other electronic devices. 
• Needing to move to a quieter space to be able to hear. 
• Being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other. 
• Keeping conversations short. 

These symptoms can be experienced mildly to profoundly, depending on the degree of hearing loss present. To cope with symptoms, people often avoid conversations altogether. This includes skipping out on social gatherings and activities as well as spending less time with loved ones. Social withdrawal is a major effect of untreated hearing loss. Not only can it contribute to the development of depressive symptoms but it can further strain relationships adn mental health. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is important to have your hearing evaluated as soon as possible. 

Treating Hearing Loss 

Fortueanyl, there are effective ways hearing loss is treated. The most common treatment is hearing aids. Though you may picture bulky devices when thinking of hearing aids, today’s hearing aids are sleeker and savvier than ever before. Hearing aids are designed to absorb, amplogy, and process speech as well as sound. This provides the ears and brain with ample hearing support, alleviating symptoms and maximizing one’s hearing capacity. 

Today’s hearing aids offer award winning designs in addition to different styles, features, and technologies that are designed to increase connectivity and deliver enhanced sound quality. Hearing aids are wearable pieces of technology that seamlessly integrate into everyday life while supporting hearing health across all environments. Your hearing healthcare provider will help you navigate your hearing aid options, ensuring you choose a device that is optimal for your hearing and lifestyle needs. 

Prioritize Your Hearing Health This March

World Hearing Day is a great reminder to prioritize your hearing health and wellness. You can do this with one simple step: scheduling an appointment for a hearing test. Conducted by a hearing healthcare provider, hearing tests involve a painless process that measures your hearing capacities in both ears. This noninvasive evaluation process identifies the type of hearing loss you are experiencing and the degree of impairment in each ear. Once your hearing needs are established, treatment can be tailored to meet those needs. 

Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation. Hearing loss does not have to be a barrier from living the life that you want. Treatment allows people to live life actively and fully. We look forward to connecting you with the solutions that can transform your health adn wellness.