October is National Audiology Month, which means now is the perfect time to make your hearing health a priority.
More than 37 million Americans have hearing loss, with one in eight people having a significant aural impairment. More than half of those with hearing damage are under the age of 65.
Audio Help Hearing Centers in New York City, Scarsdale, New York, and Stamford, Connecticut encourage you to come in for a baseline screening and schedule annual appointments with an audiologist. Each of our locations offers complimentary consultations and hearing wellness screenings to new patients.
What Does Hearing Loss Sound Like?
Taking proactive measures to address your hearing health can make the difference in preserving your quality of life and being able to hear the sounds around you. The following issues are signs you may already be experiencing hearing loss:
- Difficulty following conversations
- Presence of tinnitus – ringing, buzzing or humming sound in the ears
- Trouble understanding people if they are not facing you or in another room
- Regularly ask people to repeat themselves
Taking prompt action when you suspect hearing loss is critical in preserving the hearing you have remaining. On average, most people wait more than seven years from the time they first notice a problem to the time they schedule an audiology appointment. To put it plainly, that is too long to wait.
What Causes Hearing Damage?
Hearing loss can be caused by a number of different factors, including:
- Normal aging process
- Exposure to extremely loud noise
- Certain medications or illness
- Ear infections and disease
- Trauma to the ear or head
Protect Your Hearing
Even if you already have a hearing impairment, hearing protection can be effective in saving the hearing you still have. Urban living and soundscapes can put your hearing health in jeopardy. Ways you can protect your hearing include:
- Wear protective devices such as earplugs or earmuffs when you’re around loud sounds such as concerts. Your audiologist can make suggestions on the types of protection that suit you best.
- Reduce the volume on earbuds, headphones, TVs and stereos. Avoid using earbuds in loud environments because you have to turn the music up louder to hear it.
- Do not put anything other than hearing protective devices in your ear.
For more information on services available at Audio Help Hearing Centers, schedule an appointment or call 888-832-9966.
