You heard right. One in five adults in New Zealand experience hearing loss – however, very few do something about it. At Specsavers, we understand how important your hearing is to connecting with friends, family and the things you enjoy. Which is why getting your ears checked at the first sign of hearing loss is key to getting the best possible outcome. Now doesn’t that sound good?
Benefits of good hearing
From social gatherings with the ones you love, to the joy of listening to your favourite music, hearing loss means missing the moments that matter. But for many people, it’s not until their hearing begins to deteriorate that they realise how important it is.
Untreated hearing loss can impact your relationships with others, your participation in the community and even your independence. But today’s digital hearing aids are discreet and high tech, and can vastly improve your quality of life.
At Specsavers, your ears are in good hands. Our hearing aids are tailored to you, so you can choose your preferred style at no extra cost to the technology level you decide on.
What causes hearing loss?
You may have heard it before, but it’s true – hearing loss is a natural part of the ageing process. And because it can be gradual, you may not even realise it’s happening.
For most people, hearing begins to deteriorate from the mid-thirties, and slowly declines over time. The sensitive hair-like cells in the inner ear simply wear out over the years. When this happens, it becomes harder to understand sounds clearly, particularly speech. And hearing in social environments like restaurants can be even more challenging.
For others, illness, injury or exposure to noisy work environments – like construction, hospitality, transport, factories or live entertainment – can contribute to earlier hearing loss.
Signs of hearing loss
Have you noticed any of these tell-tale signs?
- You have the TV or radio volume louder than is comfortable for others
- You find hearing over the telephone hard work
- Group conversations have become difficult to follow
- You ask people to repeat things or misunderstand what they say
- You’ve started avoiding places because you can’t hear properly
- Someone suggests you might not be hearing as well as you used to
Sound like you? Now’s the time to get your hearing checked.
When do I need to see an Audiology Professional?
Once you reach the age of 40, it’s important to get your ears checked as often as you check your eyes, usually every two years. But if you’re experiencing any of the tell-tale signs of hearing loss, don’t wait for the big 4-0. Because, the longer you leave it, the worse your hearing can get.
The earlier you address your hearing needs, the better the long-term outcome. And that’ll be music to your ears.
Listen to our senior audiologist Kathryn Launchbury tell you more.
