Using an AARP benefit, test your hearing by telephone

Did you know if you’re an AARP member, you can take a free annual hearing test via telephone?

It’s true: the National Hearing Test is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The goal of this screening is to help you understand the status of your hearing and determine if you should pursue talking to a physician to have a complete evaluation of your hearing. The exciting point of this screening is that it is a first of its kind and only takes 10 minutes of your time.

Most people have never had their hearing tested, and about 36 million Americans have significant hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss can cause your family to be concerned that you have cognitive decline due to having trends of social isolation because you cannot hear well.

That can lead to miscommunications at work and in your personal life, which can cause deep frustration and decrease your quality of life.

With this being said, your hearing health is vital for you to have a quality of life that will help you continue to be healthy, safe and mobile.

It’s an easy test.

Simply listen to several three-digit sequences; then, you will use the touchpad on your phone and enter the numbers you have heard. If you are handling it well and can recite the numbers correctly, the test will increase in difficulty, making it harder for you to listen to the digits.

If you have a hard time and select the wrong numbers, the test will continue to get easier for you to answer the questions.

Once the test is completed, you will be told the individual results for your right ear and your left ear in the following terms: within the “normal range,” “slightly below” or “substantially below normal.”

Taking the test and receiving your results from home is a beautiful way, at the convenience of your home, to privately determine if you should make an appointment with your local audiologist to have your hearing wholly evaluated.

This power tool can help identify common forms of hearing loss.

If your results indicate more complex issues, don’t worry. Results will guide you to the next steps, including offering you the support of a local audiologist to assist you. You’re not alone in this journey.

If you find yourself asking others to repeat themselves or struggling to be understood, it’s important to take action. These could be signs of hearing loss and it’s crucial to discuss your concerns with a professional.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength and self care.

According to AARP:

The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, with up to 80 percent of functionally significant hearing loss occurring in older adults. In one population cohort in the United States, the prevalence of hearing loss (defined by audiometry) increased steadily with age:

l 11% ages 44 to 54

l 25% ages 55 to 64

l 43% ages 65 to 84

The screening test results are intended to measure how much difficulty a person will have in hearing speech and other sounds they want to hear, not how they compare to others their age. Whether you are 40, 60 or 80, you will have similar hearing problems if you have, for example, a 40-decibel hearing loss in the range of speech.

How you hear compared to others your age might help an audiologist or physician specializing in hearing understand the cause of your loss.

To get started with your hearing test, you must have your member ID available to verify that you are a current member. Once verified, you will receive an access code that you can use to take the test. For non-members, the cost is $8.

I will tell you a little secret: Get your membership for a few dollars more instead of just paying for the test. Then, you will have access to many other benefits that AARP offers for individuals age 50 or older, such as discounts on travel, insurance and healthcare services.

My husband and I both joined when we turned 50 and have found the membership to be incredibly valuable.

To sign up to take the hearing test, visit www.

nationalhearingtest.org. Have your AARP membership number available. Don’t wait, take the first step toward better hearing today.

Roberta Cykon is a Youngstown State University graduate and a licensed social worker and gerontologist. Roberta is in her second three-year term with the Trumbull County Senior Service Advisory Council. If you have any topics or questions you would like Roberta to discuss email her at rmcykon01@gmail.com.