October is Audiology Awareness Month. Audiology Awareness Month is set to celebrate those with, and spread awareness and understanding about, hearing loss, tinnitus and their available treatments. By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, at least 700 million of whom will likely require treatment.
Outside of hearing aids, hearing loss and tinnitus are invisible conditions. Many people in your life may be living with hearing loss without your knowledge. The fact that hearing loss and tinnitus tend to be backgrounded is one of the best reasons to celebrate Audiology Awareness Month.
A few great ways to celebrate this October include but are not limited to:
- Broadening and sharing your knowledge
- Discussing hearing loss with friends and family
- Encouraging hearing protection
- Scheduling a hearing test
Let’s look at each of these a little more closely.
Broaden and Share Your Knowledge
The internet is full of great resources for better hearing loss and tinnitus understanding. Try to find and read at least five well-researched articles about hearing loss and tinnitus this month. Share your favorite two or three articles on your preferred social media platform or circulate them around your office via email. If you’re unsure where to look, check out our blog page or click one of the linked blogs at the bottom of this piece.
Discuss Hearing Loss With Friends and Family
Openly discussing your hearing loss is a very personal choice. If you or a loved one has hearing loss or tinnitus, consider opening a compassionate discussion about your experiences. While remaining aware of your and your loved one’s comfort level throughout the conversation, try to ask questions and encourage understanding. Talking about our experiences can make us feel seen and heard and may even decrease some stress surrounding hearing loss and tinnitus.
Encourage Hearing Protection
The Centers for Disease Control defines the threshold for hearing loss as exposure to noise above 70 decibels (dB) for a prolonged period of time or above 120 dB immediately. Through music, TV and more, many of us are exposed to higher noise levels than we may initially consider. Encouraging your friends and family to use hearing protection when exposed to noise levels above the recommended threshold is one great way to celebrate Audiology Awareness Month.
Schedule a Hearing Test
Regular hearing tests will help you track hearing progression as you age, making it easier to identify when hearing loss occurs. If it has been a couple of years since your last hearing test, call your provider today to schedule a test.
For more information about hearing loss and tinnitus, call the experts at Midwest Hearing today.