Surprisingly, it’s been over 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her yearly medical test. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing test normally gets ignored.
There are many reasons to get hearing exams, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most essential. Knowing how frequently she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So, just how often should you have a hearing exam?
If the last time Harper took a hearing assessment was over a decade ago, that’s alarming. Or maybe it isn’t. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For people over 50: The general recommendation is that anybody above the age of fifty should make an appointment for yearly hearing assessments Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. In addition, there may be other health concerns that can impact your hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing assessments. Of course, it’s ok to get a hearing assessment more often. But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s fast, simple, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
You need to have your hearing tested if you experience any of these signs.
Needless to say, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Symptoms of hearing loss might start to crop up. And in those situations, it’s important to reach out to us and schedule a hearing assessment.
Some of the signs that should motivate you to get a hearing exam include:
- Sounds become muffled; it begins to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Phone conversations are getting harder to hear.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs begin to accumulate. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing checked.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But there are tangible benefits to getting your hearing tested per guidelines.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help identify any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Detecting hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the precise reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Recognizing your hearing loss early by getting your hearing tested when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an affect on your overall health.