During Hearing Health Awareness Month, the team has been reaching out to communities in Houston about their hearing challenges and questions.
One question that’s arisen is why it takes so long for someone to seek treatment for a condition before it becomes more serious. Recent statistics from John Hopkins University show around 14 percent of the US population (44.6 million people) have some form of a hearing loss. On average, it takes seven years before someone turns to a doctor of audiology for life-changing advice and hearing care services.
For those still deciding whether to see a specialist, these are the three most common factors that might be preventing you from seeking the help you need.
Hearing loss and treatment seem like a big investment
Before someone thinks about booking an appointment, they often worry about how much treatment might set them back. This is due to a long-held perception that hearing healthcare is extremely expensive, and therefore, not for everyone. In the past, they might have had a point. But today, there are a range of treatments fitting almost every budget and are packed with features.
Allison Audiology’s specialists work with every single patient and offer fantastic hearing solutions at a level of investment that makes sense to them while also addressing their hearing needs.
Hearing aids aren’t for me
Another regular concern among patients is how treatment with hearing aids might affect their day-to-day lives. Due to historic stigma, they assume that hearing instruments are large, bulky devices that will instantly make others treat them differently. In fact, the opposite is true. These days, devices are minute and highly sophisticated. You may have even spoken to several people in the past week who have a hearing aid without even knowing.
More importantly, hearing aids improve your ability to connect with others. This means you won’t have to ask people to repeat themselves – often seen as a clear sign of aging.
You don’t notice hearing loss
One of the most common reasons people have an untreated hearing loss is that they’re unaware that they have a problem in the first place. This is because hearing loss occurs gradually. It’s often the people around you that become aware of your problem first.
Some of the classic signs include turning up your TV louder, having trouble interacting in noisy environments, and withdrawing from social occasions where communication is essential.
It’s far simpler to recognize a decline in your eyesight. But with hearing loss, you really need to be assessed by a specialist who can diagnose individual conditions.
A hearing assessment, lasting no more than 30 minutes, is the easiest path to better hearing. If you have questions regarding your hearing, now is a great time to book an appointment! Get a baseline hearing check and have all your questions answered.
Do you have a concern about a hearing loss or know someone else who does? Contact the friendly staff at Allison Audiology in Houston today, and they’ll be able to assist you right away.
