Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month?If you haven’t heard of this campaign we are here to help you learn about it and why it can be valuable for your health. Organized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Better Hearing and Speech Month is all about raising awareness about hearing loss – one of the most pervasive health issues people experience today. Over 48 million people live with hearing loss, a chronic condition that reduces one’s capacity to hear and process sound. The theme of this month is: Connecting People which highlights the importance of treatment and people accessing the services that can transform their hearing health.
Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
Treating hearing loss helps people reconnect and live their best lives. There are countless benefits of treatment that profoundly improve daily life. This includes:
- Strengthens communication: hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing loss. These are electronic devices that provide significant support, allowing people to hear much more easily. Hearing aids alleviate symptoms and maximize hearing capacity. People are better able to readily hear and respond during conversations which means greater engagement. These conditions support effective communication, allowing people to be more present and comfortable.
- Improves relationships: communication is foundational for relationships. Hearing loss not only impacts the person experiencing it but also those around them. In fact, people often report feeling ignored or unheard by their loved one with hearing loss. Treatment transforms communication which significantly benefits relationships. Hearing aids create greater capacity and possibility of spending quality time with others, engaging in rich conversation, and being fully present. These effects contribute to intimacy and connection which improves relationships.
- Enriches social life: hearing aids are especially helpful in environments that can be tougher to hear in. This includes social settings which tend to have more background noise. Hearing aids provide ample support, allowing people to navigate these settings and conversations more easily. Hearing aids support an active social life and even offer various features in service to this – background noise reduction, automated settings, and enhanced processing time which delivers optimal sound quality.
- Enhances overall health: treating hearing loss also reduces health risks. Extensive research shows that untreated hearing loss increases health risks including cognitive decline, depression, and accidental injuries. Treatment addresses this by strengthening cognitive functions, increasing spatial awareness, and boosting wellness by improving relationships and social life.
These benefits are among many that help people live fuller, more satisfying lives. This improves quality and longevity of life .
Connecting to Hearing Healthcare Services
There are several services and resources you can access to support your hearing health. This includes:
- Hearing tests: the first step to address hearing loss is to have your hearing assessed. Hearing tests involve a painless process that measures your hearing abilities in each ear. This identifies any hearing loss and the degree of hearing impairment you could be experiencing. Once this is established, your hearing healthcare provider is able to recommend tailored treatment options that will best meet your hearing needs.
- Hearing aid selection, fitting, maintenance: todays’ hearing aids have experienced significant innovation. There are numerous options with various features and styles. Your hearing healthcare provider will use their expertise to help you navigate your options, ensuring that you choose a hearing aid that will perfectly meet your hearing and lifestyle needs. They will also fit your hearing aid to your ear(s) as well as program your device with the settings needed to maximize your hearing capacity. Hearing healthcare practices also offer maintenance services that help keep your device clean and working effectively on an ongoing basis.
- Tinnitus management: tinnitus is a common hearing loss symptom. There are therapies and services available to help you effectively manage tinnitus, reducing its impact on daily life.
- Custom hearing protection: in addition to hearing aids, another common service is custom hearing protection which protects the ears from loud noise exposure.
These services are examples of the hearing healthcare resources that are available to you. These services diagnose, treat, and support your hearing health which is integral to your overall health.
Prioritize Your Hearing Health this May
This month is a great opportunity to prioritize your hearing health. You can do this by contacting us to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation. The many benefits of treatment await you!