The month of May is National Better Hearing Month and Precision Hearing of Clermont is encouraging area residents to make an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test. “Healthy hearing means not waiting to check your hearing until hearing loss is so significant it’s impacting your ability to participate in your work, social events you enjoy, or conversations with loved ones,” said Dr. Kristen Weinbaum, audiologist and owner of Precision Hearing. “Subtle changes in hearing may not be immediately noticeable but can make a big difference in quality of life. Audiologists can check your hearing and make recommendations for improving hearing health and function and can offer tips for protecting your hearing to make sure it can serve you well for a lifetime.”
Hearing loss impacts a large number of Americans. According to a 2016 study by the National Institutes of Health NIDCD, approximately 37.5 million American adults have some trouble with hearing and approximately 28.8 million could benefit from the use of hearing aids. As the baby boomer population ages, more Americans are facing hearing health challenges. Growing numbers of younger Americans are also reporting hearing problems.
While age is still a big factor in hearing loss, many younger people also experience hearing difficulty, partly due to exposure to loud music and occupational noise. Among adults with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than 30% have used them despite growing evidence that doing so results in improved cognitive function and better long-term outcomes.
“Research demonstrates that untreated hearing loss in seniors is related to poor health outcomes, including significantly increased falls and dementia risk,” said Dr. Weinbaum. “Individuals with even mild hearing loss are at a twofold risk of dementia. Research has shown that wearing hearing aids is the number one most impactful thing you can do to lower risk of dementia. Not to mention, hearing is what connects us to the people in our lives and as we age, those social connections are increasingly valuable. It’s so important that we treasure our hearing and do all we can to support healthy hearing and a healthy brain for a lifetime.”
While hearing aids are the most commonly recognized treatment for hearing loss, there are many factors that go into determining the best way to manage changes in hearing. An audiologist is the specialist who is best equipped to determine the underlying reason for the hearing loss and to further determine the appropriate treatment. They can also offer custom options for protecting hearing.
Dr. Weinbaum has been serving Clermont and the surrounding communities since 2012 and is the area’s only board-certified doctor of audiology. She and her team are launching a public awareness campaign to educate the community on the benefits of earlier treatment of hearing loss.
If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, call Precision Hearing at 352-765-8008 today to schedule an appointment for a complimentary hearing evaluation.