As we start October, we want you to know that October is National Audiology Awareness month. This month is all about raising awareness about getting regular hearing exams. You may not give hearing loss a lot of thought, but it’s essential to keep it at the back of your mind throughout your life.
Surprising Hearing Loss Facts
Hearing impairment doesn’t affect only the older population. It affects individuals of all ages and genders. In 2008, October became National Audiology awareness month. This helps heighten awareness about hearing health for individuals throughout the country. One of the best ways to spread awareness about hearing health is to share some facts with those around you. Some popular facts include:
- Around 48 million Americans are experiencing some degree of hearing impairment.
- Hearing loss affects people of all ages, with only one-third of patients being 65 years of age or older.
- The average patient with hearing loss will wait seven years to seek treatment.
- 85 decibels is the safety threshold for noise exposure. Anything over this can cause significant hearing loss in a short period of time.
- Out of every 1,000 babies that are born, 223 will experience hearing impairment.
- Nine out of every ten people who have hearing loss have sensorineural hearing loss. This leads to permanent damage to the inner ear.
- Loud noise and aging are the most common causes of hearing impairment in the United States.
Regular Hearing Checks are Imperative to Your Well-Being
One of the most common types of hearing loss develops over time. Because of this, it can be hard to pinpoint when you’re having trouble hearing. One of the best things that you can do to help identify this issue early on is to undergo regular hearing checks. You should do this every year, and what better time to do it than in October.
Experts recommend a professional evaluation at least once per year. If you have hearing loss, a hearing care professional may recommend more testing. These regular examinations will be able to alert you to any problems. They can also provide peace of mind about your hearing abilities.
People don’t realize how much hearing affects their entire lifestyle. Even slight hearing loss can reduce your quality of life. You withdraw from social situations because you can’t hear those around you. Untreated hearing loss can reduce your quality of life and lead to mental health issues. Because it is National Audiology Awareness Month, now is a great time for your hearing test.
Call Us Today
If you believe that you have hearing loss, then it’s time to speak to one of our hearing care professionals. Our licensed audiologist will perform a hearing exam to see if there is an issue with your hearing. We can provide recommendations on how to best treat it.
