Expert says even if you hear fine, you should have your hearing checked
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
You may never ask others to repeat themselves or turn up the TV volume, but you should have your hearing checked anyway.
Just as you start receiving other health screenings and exams at a “certain age,” you should have a baseline hearing exam.
Hearing loss is common, as one-third of people aged 65 to 74 years old have hearing loss. Half of adults 75 and older have hearing loss and 80% of those 80 and older do as well.
Hearing exams are not only looking for problems with the ears.
“Hearing loss is often looked at as a diagnosis. However, hearing is your brain’s ability to perceive sound,” said Kristopher Rookey, audiologist with Upstate Hearing, Inc. in Oswego and Ogdensburg. “Listening is the connection between ear and brain thus making hearing more a neurological brain function.”
Because hearing loss tends to occur due to cumulative damage, hearing exams should start at about age 50, based on the findings of the American Academy of Audiology.
“After the age of 40 most people start to notice ringing in ears and trouble understanding speech in noise environment,” Rookey said. “Most often the awareness of the noticeable hearing loss is noticed later on.”
As time goes on, hearing loss continues to worsen, as does the patient’s ability to engage in conversation and notice other sounds. That’s where hearing aids can help.
“Treating one’s hearing loss with amplification is essentially helping your brain remember conversational speech,” Rookey said. “As with any medical intervention, early treatment leads to long-term success. Being aware of early symptoms is easily discovered with a hearing exam when your routine exam includes speech in noise testing which not only measures how you hear sound but also how you understand speech clearly.”
If you do have a hearing loss, you will probably be the last person to know it.
Typically, the family members of the hearing loss patient realize the problem long before the patient does. Sometimes, patients sense that their hearing isn’t the same. However, they delay seeking a hearing exam.
Some people dread the possibility of using hearing aids so much that they refuse to have their loss of hearing evaluated. But not all hearing loss means that hearing aids are in order.
Not hearing well isn’t good for us. Emerging studies have shown a correlation between untreated hearing loss and increasing risk for cognitive decline. For one, people who aren’t hearing well become more isolated, skip socializing and there’s a possibility that the center of the brain responsible for interpreting sound is not being stimulated and suffers atrophy.
“Evidence compiled by the American Speech-language and Hearing Association indicates that untreated hearing loss has links to depression, anxiety and even dementia,” said Mia Canale, doctor of audiology and clinical audiologist with Rochester Regional Health. “The good news is that treatment for hearing loss — such as amplification — can reduce risk for developing dementia, improve cognitive function and enhance quality of life. A baseline hearing exam is the first step toward these better health outcomes.”
The provider measures the softest sounds the patient can hear across different frequencies. Canale likened it to notes on a piano. The exam includes word repetition to assess how the brain processes speech.
“These results help diagnose hearing loss, guide treatment options and can set realistic expectations for hearing aids,” she said. “Our hearing abilities come in many forms and not everyone with a hearing loss will benefit from traditional amplification as their first line of treatment.”
Some people may experience ringing in their ears as a sign they have hearing loss. Others may struggle to understand words in a conversation or distinguish conversation when there’s background sounds.
“A baseline hearing test provides a foundation for identification, making it easier to track changes and ensure timely, comprehensive care,” Canale said. “You or a loved one will surely benefit from getting a baseline hearing exam. You’re not only helping yourself today — you’re protecting your health for the future. Contact any ENT office, a licensed audiologist, or visit asha.org/profind to find a provider near you.”