When should you get a hearing test? Here are four indicators that you should get your hearing tested.
I guess my TV is frequently cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was funny. Because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder lately. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to avoid getting a hearing assessment. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can impact your overall health.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are important. Even slight hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s almost impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing assessment.
So how will you know if you should make an appointment? Here are some indications that it’s time.
You should have your hearing tested if you notice these signs
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s definitely a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of definition. One of the first signs of hearing loss is difficulty making out conversations. If you detect this happening more often, you may want to schedule a hearing test.
- Chronic ringing in your ears: A typical sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it might or might not be a symptom of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t go away, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing test.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever had a hard time keeping up with conversations because of background noise in a busy room? If this sounds familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. As your hearing progresses from healthy to impaired, one of the first signs is the loss of the ability to identify specific sounds.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it might be because you can’t hear them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more common sounds.
Here are several other situations that show you should schedule a hearing exam:
- You have an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You experience vertigo
- Your ears aren’t clearing earwax thoroughly
- You regularly use certain medications that are known to have an effect on your hearing.
- It’s hard to pinpoint the source of sounds
This checklist is by no means exhaustive. For example, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a good idea to look into any of these signs.
Routine examinations
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any signs of hearing loss. So how frequently should you have your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to have a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- If your hearing is healthy, have hearing screenings or tests every three years or so. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- If you notice signs of hearing loss, you will want to get it tested immediately, and then annually after that.
Routine screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any warning signs appear. You will have a better chance of protecting your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing examination.
