October is Audiology Awareness Month, a time dedicated to advocating for healthy hearing and widespread hearing treatment. If you have recently been diagnosed with hearing loss or you’ve been living with it for years, October is the perfect time to take the first step towards treatment. Let’s take a look at a few benefits of hearing aids and some essential steps to take to help you celebrate Audiology Awareness Month.
Benefits of Hearing Treatment
A few amazing benefits of hearing treatment include:
- Improved relationships. Untreated hearing loss can make it challenging to communicate with the people in your life, often leading to misunderstandings and arguments. Hearing aids can help you reconnect with your loved ones and build lasting relationships.
- Decreased risk of cognitive decline. A Johns Hopkins study tracking 639 adults for nearly 12 years found that mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia. A separate 2023 study found that using hearing aids could reduce the rate of cognitive decline in older adults at a high risk of dementia by nearly 50% over three years.
- Increased independence. Untreated hearing loss can cause simple tasks like grocery shopping, driving or picking up your favorite fall latte from Coffee House 1420 to feel challenging or impossible. Hearing aids amplify essential speech sounds and minimize distracting background noise to foster independence and help you move about the world confidently.
Steps To Take This Month
If you’re ready to take the leap into treatment this month, follow these steps:
- Schedule a hearing test. If you haven’t had a professional hearing evaluation, schedule one this month! Our providers will use the test to identify your specific hearing needs and help you find the right treatment.
- Explore hearing aids. Following a hearing loss diagnosis, your provider will discuss the different styles and features of your hearing aid options. This is your time to find the perfect devices for your needs.
- Sport your new devices. When you get your first pair of hearing aids, you’ll be excited to experience the world of sound around you. However, they might feel uncomfortable or seem too loud during the first few weeks. It’s normal to need some time to adjust, so be patient with yourself and the process. With a little acclimating time, you can enjoy all the benefits your hearing aids provide.
Taking the leap into hearing treatment is the perfect way to celebrate Audiology Awareness Month. Contact Aaron's Hearing Aid & Audiology Center to schedule your hearing test today.