{"id":2225,"date":"2021-10-29T17:26:05","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T22:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chsstl.org\/?p=2225"},"modified":"2021-10-29T17:26:08","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T22:26:08","slug":"reasons-to-reach-out-during-audiology-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chsstl.org\/reasons-to-reach-out-during-audiology-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Reasons to Reach Out During Audiology Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October is Audiology Awareness Month! Did you know there\u2019s no better time to care for your hearing health than right now? If you\u2019re still on the fence about seeking treatment, we\u2019ve outlined several reasons you should reach out to an audiologist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Wearing Hearing Aids Is a Natural as Wearing Glasses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Younger<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For some reason, many people who already wear glasses say that wearing hearing aids<\/a> will make them look \u201cold.\u201d This simply isn\u2019t true. Bad vision and hearing loss are both sensory deficits, and both conditions affect people of all ages. Besides, hearing aids are far more discreet than a pair of glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Untreated Hearing Loss Affects Cognitive Abilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to an analysis published by The Lancet<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>hearing loss is one of the major modifiable risk factors for developing dementia. This means treating hearing loss can help delay a dementia diagnosis, which is supported by a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society<\/em><\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Untreated Hearing Loss Puts You at Risk of Accidental Injury<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Studies also show that hearing loss puts you at an increased risk of an accidental injury, including falls. One study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery<\/em><\/a> <\/em>in 2018 found that those who reported \u201ca little trouble hearing\u201d were 60% more likely to have experienced an injury than those with normal hearing, those with \u201cmoderate trouble\u201d were 70% more likely and those with \u201ca lot of trouble\u201d were 90% more likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Hearing Loss Impacts Your Relationships & Social Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any couples counselor will tell you that communication is key to a healthy relationship. When you can\u2019t hear well, your relationships will be impacted because of the communication barrier. In addition, hearing loss can cause anxiety about mishearing and responding inappropriately to a conversation partner. This can ultimately lead to social withdrawal from activities you once enjoyed, like yoga at Yoga St. Louis<\/a> and feelings of isolation, well-known risk factors for depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Today\u2019s Hearing Aids Are Better than Ever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people are resistant to hearing aids because they picture the clunky devices their parents and grandparents wore. However, today\u2019s hearing aids are built to be small, sleek and discreet, and they boast amazing features like rechargeability, Bluetooth compatibility, smartphone connectivity, automatic programming, background noise reduction and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert audiologist, call the Center for Hearing & Speech today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n