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Recognizing Your Symptoms

Understand Your Symptoms & Health Concerns

Scheduling a visit with an audiologist in Worcester, MA, doesn’t necessarily mean you need treatment today. In fact, patients are usually relieved to learn that early hearing healthcare evaluations are not about putting on traditional hearing aids. Early evaluations are about understanding your overall hearing and brain health, which can be affected by damage to your auditory system, tinnitus, and/or a family history of diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and even exposure to loud noises in your younger years.

Your early evaluation with our audiologist is not simply for hearing but will help guide your ability to stay independent and engaged longer – reducing the risk of more serious problems like social isolation, lost independence, hospitalization, falling, memory loss and dementia, and premature death later in life. Most importantly, we love caring for our greatest generations and we’ll make sure your time with us is enjoyable.

When Should I See an Audiologist?

The American Academy of Audiology recommends completing a hearing evaluation at age 50 – think ‘Ears and Rears’. At Hearing and Brain Centers, we evaluate your hearing and cognitive function to detect issues such as difficulty hearing in noise, trouble with multiple people speaking at once, if you are bothered by tinnitus, and any declines in your cognitive function. We can tell if you will benefit from hearing protection or a brain training program, as many potential problems may not be apparent until prevention is too late. Beginning treatment at this optimal time not only ensures the greatest result but also means less time and expense down the road with better outcomes possible.

Remember, as with all major medical conditions, ‘Catch it Early; Treat it Early!’

Signs That You Need a Hearing & Cognitive Assessment

Treatment at this early stage may not even be necessary. However, it is especially important to schedule a consultation with our audiologist if you notice any of the following conditions:

  • Difficulty hearing in noise
  • Ringing, Buzzing, Chirping, or noise in your ears
  • Trouble understanding when two more people are speaking at once
  • Difficulty deciphering when people are speaking too fast
  • Not remembering what was said during a conversation
  • Difficulty hearing women or grandchildren
  • Sudden loss of hearing
  • Uneven hearing in your two ears
  • Socially isolating behaviors

What Exactly Is Early Treatment?

Hearing loss, whatever the cause may be, can be effectively treated. The fact is, as we age, our chances of devel­oping these conditions increase astronom­ically. Nearly 50% of people between the age of 60-70 years young experience hear­ing loss and/or tinnitus, and the numbers only increase from there! Our office has treated more patients in their 50’s in the past few years than we did in the first 15 years!

Unfortunately, "age-related hearing loss" (in medical terms, Presbycusis) is thought to be embedded in our genetics – making it inevitable for most of us. Factor in some noise exposure from your younger years (concerts, work, landscap­ing, etc.), and you have a recipe for disaster.

Your first step is to simply arrange a con­sultation with our audiologist. The education, guidance, and treatment you receive today may help save you from years of frustration, embarrassment, and possi­bly more devastating medical conditions later. When it comes to your hearing and cognitive healthcare, early detection is the key to preventing future problems!

Some potential early interventions may include:

  • Hearing protection
  • Auditory Brain training exercises
  • Indirect treatment of tinnitus perception
  • Early-stage treatment to slow the progression

Recent medical research by the European Dementia Commission shows that the early treatment of hearing loss is the #1 most modifiable risk factor for the prevention of dementia.

What Is the Benefit of Early Treatment?

While patients don’t need to rush into purchasing traditional hearing aid amplifiers, some hearing and brain health issues can be minimized or avoided with early detection and treatment, including:

  • Social isolation
  • Depression
  • Perception of tinnitus
  • Progression of the hearing loss
  • Degeneration of the auditory nerve & neural pathways
  • Brain atrophy due to lack of stimulation of the auditory nerve
  • Cognitive overload & strain on the brain
  • Increased risk of dementia & cognitive decline by 200-500%
  • Deterioration of quality of life

Learn More About the Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss in the Report Below

What to Expect on Your First Visit
  • Get to Know You & Understand Your Symptoms
  • Discuss Your Treatment Goals & Medical History
  • Determine Your Stage of Hearing Loss or Tinnitus
  • Answer All of Your Questions or Concerns
  • Begin a Custom Treatment Plan
Hearing and Brain Centers are America's Highest Rated Hearing and Tinnitus Health Care Offices
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The reviews listed are from actual patients of Hearing & Brain Centers of New England. Individual results may vary. Reviews are not claimed to represent results for everyone.
(508) 753-8155 Hearing & Brain Centers of New England 102 Shore Dr, Worcester, MA, 01605 Get Directions