Early Detection of Hearing Loss
Fall is one of my favorite times of year. Change is inevitable in life but in the fall the beauty of change is on full display. The colors of the Estes Valley know no limits and the resulting display is spectacular. Fall is also a time of change for us residents of the Valley. The hustle and bustle of the tourism season starts to wane and we settle in for the winter cold and snow. This change of seasons reminds me of the changes in the seasons of our lives and where those changes may lead us. Let me explain.
Recent research has indicated that untreated hearing loss can contribute to the decline related to dementia. Researchers found that leaving hearing loss untreated leads to social isolation, a decrease in mental acuity, and higher rates of depression. However, with early detection and appropriate treatments the effects of hearing loss can be minimized. Hearing loss may be a challenge and a change in our lives, but it should not stand in the way of doing the things we love to do.
Early detection is as simple as calling your local, friendly audiologist and completing a hearing test. A hearing test gives a good picture of not only what sounds you may be missing, but also can assess your ability to understand speech in both quiet and background noise. During this time strategies for improving your communication can be discussed. You may be a candidate for a hearing aids and if so, there are many options for all budget needs. Starting early is key to keeping your ears and hearing healthy.
Your hearing, just like a muscle has to be exercised to be in top shape. Imagine the pathways from your ear up to the speech and language parts of your brain is like a trail. If a trail is frequently traveled it will stay clear and be easy to find. The speech and language pathways of your brain are the same. With hearing loss the pathways of the brain processing speech and language are not stimulated as much and thus the “trail” is not traveled as frequently. Your ability to understand speech and language, especially in more complicated situations, becomes more difficult over time. When we keep our hearing “trails” healthy our ability to understand speech stays clear and strong.
So as you travel the many beautiful trails of the Estes Valley during this fall season don’t forget the “trails” of your ears! Keeping your ears healthy with early detection of hearing loss and appropriate use of assistive devices to keep your ears and your brain healthy and strong. So, when you get back off the trails consider contacting your local, friendly audiologist today to get started on the path to better hearing.