If you lose your hearing suddenly due to an injury or exposure to a loud noise, you’re likely to notice right away. But many Canadians experience gradual hearing loss, and that can be harder to detect.
In a 2019 study, an estimated 54 per cent of Canadians aged 40 to 79 had at least mild hearing loss, but of those, 77 per cent had not perceived any loss of hearing. That means three-quarters of the adults who had hearing loss didn’t know they had it!
“A hearing test is a simple, painless, free way to assess your ear health, and get help if you need it,” says Kim Galick, owner of Ears Hearing Clinic in Langley.
4 reasons to take a hearing test
- Keep ears healthy: A hearing specialist will assess your hearing, and general health of your ear including wax build-up and other concerns. Catching these issues early allows you to seek treatment and improve your ability to communicate and engage with the world. You may also be able to make adjustments that will prevent further damage.
- Stay engaged: “Hearing loss makes it harder to communicate with loved ones and engage in many activities that make life joyful. It can lead to other problems including cognitive decline, dementia, social isolation, depression and confusion,” Kim says. Treating hearing loss can be a simple way to help reduce these other issues. Particularly as the holidays approach and we spend more time with loved ones or gathered with friends, hearing the conversation is important!
- Detect other issues: “Hearing loss can be an early warning sign for other conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, allergies or medication side-effects,” Kim says. Get your hearing tested to better understand your overall health.
- Establish a baseline: Even if your hearing test doesn’t reveal any significant issues, meeting with a specialist to discuss your hearing health is a good idea. You’ll learn what normal hearing is for you, and be better able to detect changes in the future.
Make sure your ears are in top form before you gather with friends and family around the table this holiday season. Book a free appointment with Ears Hearing to test your hearing and discuss your options! If you already wear hearing aids, Kim can help assess if they’re the right fit and properly adjusted for your needs.
Call 604-427-2828 or email info@earslangley.com to make an appointment. Find Ears Hearing at Unit C 20568 56 Ave. in Langley, online at earslangley.com and on Facebook.
