(BPT) - When was the last time you had your hearing checked? If you're like most Americans, it may have been a while or you may not have gotten it checked before - rest assured, you're not alone. According to Synchrony's 2024 "Hearing Health & Loss Prevention" study, 70% of people consider their hearing to be a priority (who doesn't?) but less than 10% have visited an audiologist in the past year.

Even more surprising, the study found 85% of respondents said there was no need to discuss their hearing with their health care provider, even though more than one in five people admitted to exhibiting potential symptoms of hearing loss, like:

• Needing people to repeat themselves
• Listening to music or watching TV louder than others may find necessary
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

Sound familiar? Hearing loss can come on gradually over time, so you might not even realize it's happening. Delaying hearing care can result in outcomes that are more serious than just having to turn up the volume again or asking someone to repeat themselves. It can have a significant effect on your physical, mental and emotional well-being that can lead to repercussions, including, but not limited to:

Social isolation: People with moderate or even mild hearing loss that's untreated can start to withdraw from social situations like parties or get-togethers because they have trouble hearing and participating in conversations in noisy environments. As we age, social connection and interaction is crucial to our well-being. Isolation from friends, family and community because of hearing loss can contribute to depression and loneliness.

Negative impact on job or school performance: If you can't hear instructions or conversations in meetings, you can miss crucial information that you need to know to perform your job adequately and safely. The same goes for school assignments.

Increased risk of falls: Hearing plays an important role in balance and spatial awareness, and in cases where there is even mild hearing loss, adults are at an increased risk of accidental falls.

Cognitive decline: Untreated hearing loss has been strongly linked to dementia in older adults. According to a Johns Hopkins study (among others), older adults with hearing loss were more likely to have dementia. It's an alarming statistic for those who ignore their hearing loss symptoms. But, here's the good news - the risk of dementia lowers among hearing aid users. It shows a clear link between hearing loss and dementia, and that treating hearing loss diminishes that risk. Exactly how hearing loss contributes to dementia is not completely understood, but one theory suggests that, in people with hearing loss, the brain must work harder to process and decipher sounds, which can be exhausting over time.

That's why the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends all adults 18-40 years old have their hearing tested every three to five years, regardless of whether they're experiencing hearing loss or not. If you're over 60 years old, frequently exposed to loud noises, experiencing hearing loss symptoms or have been diagnosed with hearing loss, you should be getting your ears checked every year.

With all of the dangers of neglecting hearing care, why don't more people make it a part of their yearly trips to their physicians? One factor could be cost. In fact, Synchrony's "Hearing Health & Loss Prevention" study found that 43% of respondents said one of the primary factors for getting their hearing checked would be cost, and they would be more likely to get their hearing checked if it was free.

There are payment options to help you manage the costs of health care associated with hearing, including financial assistance (when applicable), health insurance, third-party financing and in-house payment plans. CareCredit is a credit card used for health and wellness products and treatments that offers financing options for qualified consumers and is accepted in more than 11,000 audiology and hearing practices across the country for treatments and products that are not covered by insurance. By fulfilling the evolving needs and expectations of patients, CareCredit is a tool that empowers people to pay for the health and wellness care they want in a way that fits their lifestyle.

To learn more about what Synchrony's "Hearing Health & Loss Prevention" study uncovered about hearing health, preventative hearing care and financial planning options, please visit www.carecredit.com/well-u/. To learn more about CareCredit, please visit www.carecredit.com.