The ability to hear is a blessing, but unfortunately, the idea that hearing loss is an evitable part of aging is something that most people forget. While it is true that your hearing tends to decline as you age, disease, noise exposure, trauma, and hereditary factors are also to blame. While many people like to try to ignore this unpleasant aspect of life, there are things you can do to protect your hearing. Even though hearing loss is considered to be a common health problem in the United States, with early detection it may be treatable.

Let one of your resolutions for the New Year be “get a hearing examination done,” there’s no better time to start. There are many reasons to get your hearing tested, but just in case you are in need of some motivation check out some of the reasons why!

1. Hearing loss that goes untreated can negatively affect your quality of life and can contribute to social isolation and depression.

2. Hearing loss does not discriminate, hearing loss can affect people of all ages, and sometimes these changes can be subtle.

3. Your chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s can increase if your hearing loss goes untreated.

4. With impaired hearing, you run a higher risk of slips and falls.

5. Hearing tests are painless, and they don’t take up a lot of your time. Typically, a hearing test takes less than an hour.

6. You can help reduce your risk of cognitive decline by wearing hearing aids to treat hearing loss.

7. In some instances, hearing loss can be associated with other health conditions. They can serve as a red flag for other serious health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

8. Regular use of certain medications can increase your risk of hearing loss, and may even affect your ability to hear.

9. If you have cancer, your hearing may become damaged due to the treatments.

10. According to a study from the Better Hearing Institute, you could lose as much as $30,000 in annual income if your hearing loss goes untreated.

If you suspect that you have hearing loss, don’t delay. With early detection, you run a much higher chance of being able to treat this condition properly. Contact a hearing professional today to schedule a hearing test.