Most people know that vision is essential for driving. Good vision helps you identify road hazards, read signs and see your dashboard. Hearing, on the other hand, is often overlooked. Your sense of hearing can help you detect approaching emergency vehicles, hear the horns of other drivers, keep aware of your surroundings, and help you to identify vehicle maintenance issues.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss. Though this statistic is staggering, most people will never seek hearing loss treatment. The most common reason someone will forgo seeking treatment is because they do not want hearing aids. They fear looking old or have concerns over the high price tags.

Audiologists are healthcare professionals who specialize in hearing and balance disorders. They work with patients of all ages. It’s not unusual for people to go through their whole life without visiting an audiologist. Unlike dentists of opticians, most of us don’t schedule maintenance trips to the audiologist, and instead, wait for a problem to develop before we visit.

However, it’s best to proactively prevent issues from developing rather than being reactive when problems strike. If you have never visited an audiologist before, or have questions or concerns, our recent interview with Perry Constantino, owner of West Penn Hearing Aid Center Inc., will give you some great information.