National-Speech-Language-Hearing Month
Building awareness of hearing health
Every May, we join the hearing care community in raising awareness of hearing loss care and prevention. Hearing care is health care and treating hearing loss is essential to good overall health.
Struggling to hear? Check your hearing now.
Virtual hearing assessment5 reasons why treating your hearing loss is good for your overall health
- Improved communication and relationships: When you have untreated hearing loss, it can be difficult to communicate effectively with others, leading to misunderstandings and strained relationships.
- Reduced risk of cognitive decline: Studies have shown that untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
- Increased safety: Hearing loss can impact your balance, putting you at 3x higher risk for an injury-causing fall.
- Better mental health: Untreated hearing loss can also have a negative impact on mental health, including an increased risk of depression and anxiety.
- Improved quality of life: Hearing loss can make it difficult to enjoy social activities, music, and other hobbies. Social isolation has been associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes daily, according to a study of 20,000 people.
Signs of hearing loss
Hearing loss affects people of all ages
It's common to associate hearing loss with aging, however, it's important to know that hearing loss can impact people of all ages, including children, teens, and young-to-middle-aged adults.
Hearing loss in children/teens
- Muffled hearing or ringing in their ears
- Increase in fatigue
- Distracted behavior
- Annoyance with their ears or head
- Dislikes loud environments
Hearing loss in adults
Here are some common early signs of hearing loss to watch for. If you're experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be time for a hearing test.
- You struggle to understand others
- Loved ones complain about volume levels
- You have trouble hearing in crowds
- Your ears are ringing or buzzing
- You're constantly saying 'what?'
How to check your hearing
The first step to reconnecting with those you love is by checking your hearing. With the rise of telehealth, there are now more options to evaluate hearing than ever, including:
Additional hearing care resources
Looking for more information about hearing loss and care? Below is a list of additional resources to help you learn more.
Good hearing matters
