When is it time to get a hearing exam? Here are four signs that you should get your hearing checked.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder as of late. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
There aren’t all that many excuses not to make an appointment for a hearing exam. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there’s no radiation. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
You should really be more diligent about keeping track of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can affect your overall health.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing evaluations are important. Even mild hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s almost impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So how will you know if you should schedule an appointment? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
You should have your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently observed any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart idea to get a professional hearing exam. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only indicator, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are far less obvious:
- You have a hard time hearing when you’re in a loud environment: Have you ever been to a crowded or loud space and had difficulty following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That may actually be a sign of hearing loss. As your hearing goes from healthy to impaired, one of the first signs is the loss of the ability to identify distinct sounds.
- It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling: Often, it’s clearness not volume you need to be concerned about. One of the first signs of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. It may be time for a hearing test if you observe this happening more and more frequently.
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is typically a sign of hearing damage. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t go away, it might or might not be a sign of hearing loss. But it’s definitely an indication that you should schedule a hearing exam.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called now) is made to be loud. 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 missing out on more everyday sounds.
This list isn’t thorough, here are a few more:
- You can’t easily identify where specific sounds are originating
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You regularly use specific medications that are known to have an effect on your hearing.
- You experience vertigo
- Your ear is still plugged after an ear infection
This list, clearly, isn’t thorough. For instance, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these signs is worth looking into.
Regular checkups
But how should you cope with it when you’re not certain if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. So how often should you get your hearing screened? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Get a primary exam done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing appears normal. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get assessed right away if you notice any signs of hearing loss and after that once every year.
Regular screenings can help you discover hearing loss before any red flags develop. You will have a better chance of maintaining your hearing over time the sooner you get examined. Which means, you should probably turn down your TV and make an appointment for a hearing examination.