Our ears are the most highly evolved system in our bodies. The cells and structures needed to convert vibrating air molecules into electrical signals are incredibly specialized, which is why our bodies cannot repair them when they’re injured.

Our sense of hearing is taken for granted until it is compromised. In the film world, good filmmakers know that the audience will forgive poor camera angles and lighting, but they will never forgive poor quality sound design. Hearing health plays a tertiary health role for many reasons. One is that people think nothing can be done to prevent hearing injury or address mild hearing disorders. This is wrong. There is so much we can do, especially if you work with an audiologist.

Even if you sense that your ears are perfectly fine, screen your hearing now so you have data to compare in the future. Do the same if you suspect you don’t hear as well as you used to; is understanding friends in a restaurant more difficult than it used to be? Your audiologist will provide information about the results, whether you are at risk for hearing disorders, and if so, what to do to reduce the risk.

Hearing enhancement devices and hearing aids are absolutely wonderful gems of technology, and for some people can immensely help improve speech understanding and reduce listening effort. Some consumer headphones offer high-quality hearing enhancement features for people with mild hearing loss. However, there are a lot of poor-quality devices out there. An audiologist can also help you find the appropriate device.

Comprehensive hearing healthcare isn’t about ignoring hearing aids, but rather understanding that there is much we can do to prevent or delay the need for hearing aids. Learning about your ears is not rocket science, but there are subtle tidbits of information to learn. Help and guidance from a hearing expert will go a long way.

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