Addressing hearing loss helps women stay physically, cognitively, and socially active, says the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), which is helping to promote hearing health screenings during National Women’s Health Week.

Research shows that hearing loss is frequently associated with other physical, mental, and emotional health conditions, and that women who address their hearing loss often experience better quality of life.

As part of its efforts to promote National Women’s Health Week, BHI is encouraging hearing health care professionals across the country to organize hearing screenings in their communities, host health fairs, disseminate women’s health information, and publicize National Women’s Health Week.

BHI is also encouraging women to take a free, quick, and confidential online screening test at BHI Hearing Check (www.hearingcheck.org) during National Women’s Health Week.

The 14th annual National Women’s Health Week starts on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013, and goes through May 18. National Women’s Checkup Day is also Monday, May 13, 2013.

All of these calendar events take place during May, which is also Better Hearing and Speech Month. Consequently, hearing health professionals can coordinate these two themes into their May screening events and public relations outreach.

When left unaddressed, hearing loss interferes with a woman’s life and negatively affects virtually every aspect of her day-to-day living—including how she communicates with her doctor. And because hearing loss has been linked to several chronic diseases, as well as to an increased risk of falling, BHI says that it’s important that women and their health care providers routinely address hearing health as part of their medical care.

For more information on National Women’s Health Week, visit www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw/

SOURE: Better Hearing Institute