The Quiet Changes: Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often an area of life that gets swept under the rug and nonchalantly put off. It is gradual and very rarely instantaneous. You may notice that the leaves no longer crunch beneath your shoes or that the birds no longer sing. People now sound like they are mumbling and you find yourself asking them to repeat. You find that the background noise of the restaurant now drowns out the conversations once heard before. The television volume progressively gets louder and your phone goes to speaker phone. You may experience a high-pitched ringing that never seems to go away. If any of these statements resonate, I encourage you to continue reading and to know that you are not alone.
Today, one in five individuals worldwide are living with hearing loss. Many individuals do not know they have hearing loss until others encourage them to have their hearing checked by an audiologist. Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, tinnitus, and other hearing disorders for people of all ages. At the audiologist, individuals can receive the knowledge and treatment for their hearing loss and move towards better hearing and communication. With appropriately fitting hearing aids, individuals can have access to the noises of the world around them.
If you have concerns about hearing loss or want to establish a baseline of hearing, I encourage you to schedule a hearing test with an audiologist at Hearing Associates of South Carolina. Advocate for yourself and others around you towards better hearing.
