When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four warning signs.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was funny. Because it was a joke. But, in some ways, it was anything but funny. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I started to ask myself: should I have my hearing tested?
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 have to worry about discomfort. You’ve most likely just been putting it on the back-burner.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t worsened.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing evaluations are essential. Even slight hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s virtually impossible to detect early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So when should you have a hearing test? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
You should have your hearing tested if you observe these signs
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been noticing signs of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are much less apparent:
- It sounds like everyone’s always mumbling: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of distinction. Difficulty making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It might be time for a hearing exam if you observe this happening more and more frequently.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty hearing the conversation because of all the ambient noise? If this seems familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of a healthy ear; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss advances.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Your cellphone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it may be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you’re unable to hear your mobile device, what else might you be missing?
- Persistent ringing in your ears: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is often a symptom of hearing damage. Ringing in the ear may or may not point to hearing loss. But it’s definitely a sign that you should get a hearing test.
This list is not thorough, here are a few more:
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
- It’s difficult to determine the origin of sounds
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
This checklist is in no way exhaustive. There are other examples of warning signs (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still want it to go just a little bit louder). But any one of these signs is worth following up on.
Regular examinations
But what if, to your awareness, you haven’t encountered any of these potential signs of hearing loss? So how frequently should you have your hearing screened? With all of the other guidelines for everything, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are suggestions.
- Get a baseline test done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing examinations or tests every three years or so. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to get it assessed immediately, and then annually after that.
It will be easier to uncover any hearing loss before any red flags become obvious with regular screenings. You will have a better chance of protecting your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. So it’s time to give us a call and schedule a hearing assessment.
