Hearing is something we rely on constantly without even noticing for the most part. We chat, listen, watch a film, and recognise voices in a split second.
But unlike eye care or dental care, most people don’t think to look after their hearing in the same way, that is, until something feels visibly different. And by this point, these changes have accumulated or steadily increased to the point you realise something is amiss.
But the thing is, day to day. Hearing a part of how we connect with the world around and if sounds become less clear or you struggle to follow what’s going on, it doesn’t just affect volume — it affects mood, confidence, and how willing we are to be involved in the world.
Giving hearing more attention now can help prevent huge problems down the line. Let’s take a look at why hearing deserves more attention than you might think it does.
Hearing Changes Slowly
The thing with hearing is, if it’s impacted, it doesn’t always present in a big drop in hearing levels — unless you’ve been in an accident or sustained an injury, when it might be more sudden, instantly — it’s a slow, gradual loss that accumulates over time.
It looks like you lean in a bit more when someone speaks, or turn the TV a little louder, put subtitles on, or avoid noisy places because you can’t hear too well.
None of these moments screams “problem” on their own, but together they’re signs that something is going on with your hearing.
Hearing Is Wellbeing
People tend to think of hearing loss as an ear issue. But it’s also a brain issue, too — and a social one. When you can’t hear things clearly — someone talking in public or following along with directions on public transport, for example — you will automatically pull back from putting yourself in these situations simply because it’s easier to remove yourself than to keep asking people to repeat themselves or missing what is being said around you.
And this in turn impacts your mental health and your ability to socialise — it becomes apparent in your habits, in how much time you spend alone, in stopping the things you used to love. And for the most part, these are more obvious signs you notice, probably more than a loss of hearing.
Professionals like Cathedral Hearing can conduct hearing tests to ascertain how much hearing you have lost, if it’s permanent and what your options are moving forward, so you can regain your quality of life.
Hearing is more than what you’re able to hear. And while sounds are a part of everyday life — music, film, chatter from loved ones and the world around you, it’s often overlooked in terms of importance in relation to health checks.
But the reality is, when your hearing is clear, your life stays on track, you’re able to enjoy the world, but when it’s not, when you experience even the slightest changes in hearing levels, it can throw your entire world off its axis, and this is why it’s important to get hearing checks. Not just to hear better, but to help you live better.
