It’s a brand-new year — are you ready to improve your hearing?
2022 is here! We’ve made our way through the holiday season, we’re adjusting to writing “2022” instead of “2021,” and we’ve got a brand-new year of exciting possibilities in front of us.
We understand that the concept of New Year’s resolutions are a little cringe-inducing to some. All too often, the resolutions people make aren’t always realistic in scope. Hitting the gym every day? Probably not. Curb online shopping? Eh…maybe. Be a “better person.” Way too vague. (And don’t be so hard on yourself!
Here’s the thing: People are creatures of habit, and we’re usually better at making smaller, more incremental changes than we are at making big, sweeping ones.
The good news is that there are several small, realistic, and achievable hearing-oriented goals you can set for yourself that will make your hearing healthier, setting you up for success long after 2022 is over. Here are some ways we recommend you get started.
Book your annual hearing evaluation
If you’re over the age of 55, you should be getting an annual hearing evaluation. And if this isn’t a habit you’ve already started, it’s okay! You can change that. We make the appointment process as easy as possible when you’re in our care.
An annual evaluation is important, because it allows you to tell us about anything unusual you’ve been noticing about your hearing. Are certain things harder to hear than others? Are certain situations more stressful than others because sounds are missing?
This information helps guide our testing process, and allows us to determine if you have a blockage in your ears, have an ear infection that is affecting your hearing, or if you might have hearing loss that can be treated with technology. (And, let’s not forget other potential issues like tinnitus, dizziness, and balance problems that can occur due to hearing-related conditions.)
Over time, year-after-year, not only will we have developed a strong rapport with one another, but we’ve also created a log of your hearing health, and will be able to make even more informed decisions designed to support your hearing and communication needs.
Consider updating your hearing aid technology
If you’re someone who already wears hearing aids and you’ve had your devices for three or more years, then you should consider learning more about the latest technology to ensure what you’re wearing is the best option for your current hearing needs.
A good place to start is by booking an appointment to get your devices professionally cleaned, in addition to getting your hearing evaluated. This gives us the opportunity to talk to you about your hearing, conduct the appropriate tests, and give your devices a thorough examination, too.
Sometimes, we can simply clean your devices, replace worn or cracked tubing (if applicable), and make fine-tuning adjustments in respect to any new hearing needs you may have.
Other times, we might learn that your devices are no longer working in a way that fully supports your current hearing needs. Or, you simply learn about the latest features offered by today’s newest, most effective technology and think, “I’ve GOT to have that.”
Our goal at Colorado Ear Care is to help you feel fully present and engaged with the things that matter most to you. Making a sale is secondary to the care that we provide. We’re always here to make recommendations that will help you achieve your hearing goals.
Stop deprioritizing your hearing health
Putting yourself first can be difficult. There’s always so much to do and so much that we’re responsible for, that it becomes easier to ignore things we know we should probably fix. The way we treat our hearing health is no different.
On average, people tend to wait five to seven years after noticing a hearing issue before seeking care. That’s a long time! And it’s a very important time. Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common forms of hearing loss there is, but it’s also one of the hardest to face.
We all have a hard time with the idea of getting older, but aging is a natural part of life — and it’s one that we should celebrate, not shy away from. We can tell you from experience that the sooner you start monitoring your hearing, and the sooner you intervene when hearing loss is present, the better off you and your hearing will be!
Your conversations will be clearer. Your relationships will be richer. Your life will be more fulfilling.