Stop putting it off: Get a free hearing exam!

reprinted from Cedar Rapids Gazette

Often, the people around you, your family, friends or co-workers, may notice your hearing loss before you do. Because hearing loss can be very gradual, you may not realize that you no longer hear the birds singing or the turn signal in your car. But your family and friends have probably noticed.

Regardless of age, one of the first signs of hearing loss is often the inability to hear and understand speech in noisy environments. Even a mild and/or high frequency hearing loss alone will significantly impact clarity of speech, making you a great candidate for hearing aids.

“On average, people wait five to ten years after their initial diagnosis of hearing loss to seek treatment,” Kain says.

“But don’t wait,” says Jennifer Reekers, a Doctor of Audiology at Heartland Hearing. “A mild hearing loss is actually the perfect time to get started with hearing aids. Even patients with near normal hearing can benefit from a crisper world of sound.”

“The majority of people we work with say they wish they would have done something much sooner,” Kain adds.

Once treated, “you’ll be more engaged in your daily life,’ Reekers says. “The hearing aids do all the work for you and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the sounds of life.”