When should you get a hearing test? Here are four indicators that you should have your hearing assessed.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. You know what I said to them? I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. But, in some ways, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder as of late. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing test.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing assessment. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. You’ve most likely just been putting it off.
You should really be more vigilant about keeping track of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can affect your general health.
Hearing evaluations are important for many reasons. Even mild 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 clues that it’s time.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
If you’ve recently experienced any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart idea to get a professional hearing exam. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- Persistent ringing in your ears: A common sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. Ringing in the ear might or might not point to hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t go away, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing test.
- You’re always missing text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is made to be loud. So if you’re frequently 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.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. One of the earlier symptoms of hearing loss is trouble making out conversations. If you detect this happening more and more, you might want to make an appointment for a hearing exam.
- You have a difficult time hearing when you’re in a noisy setting: Have you ever had a difficult time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? If this seems familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one sign of healthy hearing; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss advances.
This list is not thorough, here are a few more:
- You experience vertigo
- Your ears aren’t clearing earwax thoroughly
- Your ear is still plugged after an infection
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- It’s hard to pinpoint the origin of sounds
This checklist, clearly, isn’t thorough. For instance, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. It would be a good plan to follow up on any of these symptoms.
Regular examinations
But how should you cope with it when you’re not sure if you have any signs of hearing loss. So how often should you get your hearing tested? With all of the other guidelines for everything, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some recommendations.
- Get a baseline test done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing seems normal. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- If you notice signs of hearing loss, you will want to get it checked right away, and then yearly after that.
It will be easier to identify any hearing loss before any warning signs become obvious with routine examinations. You will have a better chance of preserving your hearing over time the sooner you get tested. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing assessment.