When should you get a hearing test? Here are four indicators that you need to have your hearing checked.
I guess my TV is regularly cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But, in some ways, it was anything but funny. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing test.
There aren’t really that many excuses not to make an appointment for a hearing test. They’re not 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 neglected hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t worsened.
Hearing assessments are important for many reasons. It’s usually challenging for you to identify the earliest indications of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing loss can impact your health.
So how can you recognize if you should schedule an appointment? Here are a few ways to know if you need to consult with us.
Signs you should get a hearing test
If you’ve recently experienced any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing exam. Naturally, if things are difficult 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 loss that are far less obvious:
- It sounds like everyone’s always mumbling: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. One of the first symptoms of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. If you notice this happening more and more, you may want to make an appointment for a hearing test.
- Ringing that won’t subside: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is typically a symptom of hearing damage. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t go away, you should definitely call us for a hearing evaluation.
- You have a hard time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever been to a busy or loud space and had difficulty hearing the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That could actually be an indication of hearing loss. As your hearing goes from healthy to impaired, one of the first signs is the loss of the ability to isolate distinct sounds.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you’re frequently missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more common sounds.
Here are a few other circumstances that show you should schedule a hearing exam:
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- You can’t readily determine where specific sounds are originating
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
- You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
This list, obviously, is not thorough. There are other instances of red flags (if, for instance, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still want it to go just a little bit louder). It would be a good plan to look into any of these signs.
Routine examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t experienced any of these possible signs of hearing impairment? So how often should you have your hearing tested? There’s a guideline for everything else, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, actually, some recommendations.
- Get a primary exam done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing seems healthy. But make sure you mark these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these huge periods of time.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it tested right away, and then yearly after that.
Routine examinations can help you identify hearing loss before any warning signs appear. The earlier you find treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. So it’s time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for a hearing test.
