Why older people need a hearing test
People often overlook them, but the fact is simple – hearing tests are important.
They are easily as important as your regular appointment with at the dentist’s office, or your annual trip down to Vision Express to check that your eyes are still in fine working order, so people should equate them as such
Your parent should think of a hearing test in much the same way as a dental check-up – if they go around once a year, they’re on the right track. They should increase the frequency of visits as they get older, as their ears become more sensitive to damage as time goes by
What Causes Your Hearing to Worsen?
Mostly, it’s just one of those facts of life – as your body ages, things start to deteriorate; your hearing is no exception to the laws of entropy. Sadly, your hearing will only get worse, and this can be accelerated by things such as working in a loud environment (building sites and factories, for example), or if you are exposed to a lot of loud sounds on a daily basis
Also, some seemingly innocuous events and things can lead to a loss of hearing – a series of ear infections, for instance, or even some medication (known as “ototoxic” drugs). Basically, get regular check-ups and your parent should be fine
Why Should Your Parent Have a Hearing Test Annually?
Come on now, do you need to ask this question? Just think about your hearing and how important it is – you use it every single day of your life, whether that’s listening to your favourite song, having a nice conversation with your parents, or simply when crossing the road
Your parent doesn’t want to lose their hearing, not even slightly. Things like the dawn chorus or someone chatting at a party would quickly become hard to hear
How Do You Prevent Hearing Loss?
First and foremost, your parents needs to have your hearing checked regularly. I know we keep harping on about it, but that’s only because it’s of vital importance. One great place to get your hearing checked is Boots Hearingcare – they’re located all over the place.
The audiologist should be able to tell straight away if your parent is at risk of causing hearing damage; for example, you may be listening to music via earphones at too high a volume. The specialist should be able to recommend a more reasonable (and safe!) setting
Sometimes, however, your parent’s hearing will start to deteriorate for no discernible reason. Not discernible to them, at any rate. A specially trained audiologist is well-versed in the ways of the ear, and as such should be able to diagnose any loss of hearing at the earliest possible stage, telling your parent what exactly is causing it and what they can do about it
Whether that’s wearing a hearing aid or using ear plugs while at work, the advice should help your parent to keep their hearing in good nick for a longer period of time. If that’s not a good thing, we don’t know what is!
With thanks to Tom Rokins
