A Grand Junction business hopes an observance of Better Hearing and Speech Month in May encourages people to have their hearing tested and take action if they suffer hearing loss.

“Many people wait years or even decades to take any action on their hearing loss — if they ever do. Our goal is to inform the public about all of the preventative, diagnostic and treatment options available,” said Jennifer Bebee, owner of Western Colorado Hearing and Balance.

While people can be born deaf or hard of hearing — and hearing loss is relatively common in older adults — hearing loss can occur at any age, Bebee said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 15 percent of children ages 6 to 19 suffer hearing loss. In the U.S. workplace, about 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noises each year that could affect their hearing.

Loud noise, ear infections and even some medications and medical treatments can result in hearing loss. Yet, many people ignore their hearing health, Bebee said.

 According to a 2021 national poll conducted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and YouGov, only 20 percent of adults had a hearing test in the past five years compared to the 61 percent who had vision tests.

“Most people underestimate their degree of hearing loss — as well as the impact it’s having on their lives,” Bebee said. “Even a so-called mild hearing loss that goes undetected can put a child one or more grade levels behind in school. For adults, untreated hearing loss is increasingly connected to cognitive decline and earlier onset of dementia. So, the benefits of treatment are clear and convincing.”

Bebee said it’s critical for people of all ages to protect their hearing. That includes limiting time in noisy spaces, wearing hearing protection at loud events and remaining vigilant for signs of hearing loss. Those signs could include difficulty following conversations, hearing on telephones, or understanding what children say as well as perceiving that people sound as though they’re mumbling.

“We only get one pair of ears. It’s imperative that we do all we can to prevent hearing loss and treat the hearing loss that we do have to prevent further damage,” she said.

For additional information about Western Colorado Hearing and Balance, visit www.wchearingclinic.com.