As many as 4,000 years ago, ancient Babylonians were setting resolutions to pay back debts and return borrowed items. These days, New Year’s declarations focus more on health and wellness. One quick and easy health-related resolution you can set is scheduling a baseline hearing test.
Understanding Baseline Hearing Testing
A baseline hearing test falls under the same vein as going to your six-month checkup with your general practitioner. You don’t just go to your doctor when you’re sick. You should establish a baseline for your health. Establishing baselines for things like your cholesterol and blood pressure helps your doctor track changes over time and identify issues early on.
A baseline hearing test works the same way. Your hearing specialist will chart which volumes and frequencies you hear well, and the ones you hear not-so-well, on an audiogram. If they don’t identify hearing loss, they’ll have you come back for another appointment in the future. At your next test, they’ll compare your results with the previous ones to look for subtle or significant changes.
The Importance of Early Treatment
Untreated hearing loss can significantly affect your quality of life, leading to a higher risk of social isolation, depression and anxiety and lower levels of independence. While hearing aids aren’t a direct treatment for depression and anxiety, they can have a positive effect on your social life and sense of freedom.
A few ways they help include:
- Clearer conversations. Hearing aids make speech easier to understand, reducing misunderstandings and the need to ask others to repeat themselves. When it’s easier to keep up with the conversation, going out to happy hour at La Condesa, making friends at school or joining new clubs won’t feel so out of reach.
- Greater background awareness. Hearing environmental sounds like traffic, alarms or fellow shoppers at the grocery store will allow you to navigate the world independently.
- Easier individual tasks. There’s no shame in asking for help, but many people with hearing loss struggle with the reality of doing so. Hearing aids help you tackle anything from phone calls to appointments without relying heavily on your support system. They’re the perfect solution for people who want to maintain their individual freedom.
Scheduling a baseline hearing test helps ensure you can take advantage of early hearing loss treatment when you need it before the negative effects of untreated hearing loss begin to impact your daily life. Contact River ENT today to schedule your appointment.
