{"id":8717,"date":"2019-11-22T11:38:37","date_gmt":"2019-11-22T19:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everhear.com\/?p=8717"},"modified":"2022-09-29T11:44:06","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T18:44:06","slug":"hearing-tests-who-should-get-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everhear.com\/hearing-tests-who-should-get-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Tests: Who Should Get Them\u2026and How Often?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re like most people in Bellevue or Kirkland, you haven\u2019t had a hearing test in a long time. This is understandable; when you are hearing fine, you\u2019re not going to make a hearing exam a priority. Why fix what ain\u2019t broke, right? The only problem is, your hearing might be<\/em> \u201cbroke\u201d without you realizing it!<\/p>\n

A Guideline for Scheduling Hearing Exams<\/h2>\n

\"woman<\/p>\n

Hearing loss is extremely common in the U.S.; it affects 48 million Americans, making it the third most common physical health condition behind arthritis and heart disease. Experts believe that about one out of every five people in Bellevue and Redmond has hearing loss to a certain extent.<\/p>\n

Hearing loss<\/a> is caused by a variety of factors; the most common ones include age, noise exposure<\/a>, trauma and disease. Left untreated, your risk of developing a serious physical, social or psychological health complication increases. Hearing loss is associated with isolation, loneliness, depression<\/a>, anxiety and stress. Patients are more likely to experience dementia, kidney disease and potentially fatal falls. The sooner a diagnosis can be made, the better your health and overall quality of life will be.<\/p>\n

Hearing Loss is Difficult to Identify<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t assume you\u2019ll recognize the signs of hearing loss when they occur. The brain does an amazing job of filling in the blanks by diverting cognitive resources from areas such as memory and concentration to help you hear better. It takes seven years, on average, from the onset of hearing loss until most patients seek treatment. In many cases, they are simply unaware of a problem.<\/p>\n

Hearing tests<\/a> are the best tools for diagnosing hearing loss early and accurately. When and how often you have your hearing checked depends on factors such as age, symptoms and overall risk. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)<\/a> recommends the following schedule for kids and adults.<\/p>\n