When should you have your hearing tested? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four signs.
I guess my TV is regularly cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But, in reality, it was anything but funny. The TV has been getting progressively louder. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing test.
There aren’t really that many reasons not to make an appointment for a hearing exam. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t put aside time to do it.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t gotten worse.
Hearing assessments are essential for many reasons. It’s often hard for you to observe the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even slight hearing loss can impact your health.
So when should you get a hearing test? Here are some indications that it’s time.
Signs you should get a hearing test
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been experiencing signs of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a hard time hearing.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You have a hard time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever had a difficult time following along with conversations because of background noise in a busy room? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss progresses.
- Ringing that won’t clear itself up: A common sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. Ringing in the ear may or may not indicate hearing loss. But it’s definitely an indication that you should get a hearing exam.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you’re frequently missing calls or text messages, it may be because you can’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more common sounds.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they speak: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned with, it’s a loss of definition. One of the first symptoms of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. If you detect this happening more often, you might want to make an appointment for a hearing test.
Here are several other situations that show you should make an appointment for a hearing evaluation:
- You have an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You have vertigo
- It’s difficult to pinpoint the source of sounds
This list is in no way exhaustive. For instance, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. It would be a smart plan to follow up on any of these symptoms.
Regular checkups
But what if, to your awareness, you haven’t encountered any of these possible signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should go get your hearing checked? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, in fact, some recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to get a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing screenings or tests every three years or so. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get tested right away if you notice any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
Routine screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags develop. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing in the long run. So it’s time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for a hearing assessment.