When should you get a hearing test? Here are four clues that you should have your hearing assessed.
I guess my TV is regularly turned 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 it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting progressively louder. And I started to wonder: should I get a hearing test?
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing test. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there isn’t any radiation. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can impact your general health.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. It’s often challenging for you to identify the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing impairment can affect your health.
So how can you recognize if you should schedule an appointment? Here are several ways to tell if you need to come see us.
Signs you should get a hearing test
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing exam. Obviously, 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 impairment that are far less obvious:
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is frequently a sign of hearing damage. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it might or might not be a sign of hearing loss. But it’s definitely a sign that you should schedule a hearing assessment.
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever had a hard time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? That could actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one sign of healthy hearing; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss advances.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes, it’s clarity not volume you have to worry about. One of the earlier signs of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. It may be time for a hearing exam if you detect this happening more and more frequently.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Your cellphone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you missed, it’s probably because you didn’t hear them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more everyday sounds.
This list is not thorough, here are a few more:
- Your ears aren’t removing earwax thoroughly
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You frequently use specific medications that are recognized to have an impact on your hearing.
- It’s challenging to pinpoint the source of sounds
This list is by no means exhaustive. For example, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. It would be a good idea to look into any of these symptoms.
Regular checkups
But how should you cope with it when you’re not certain if you have any signs of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how often you should go get your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should get a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing seems normal. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to get it checked immediately, and then yearly after that.
It will be easier to identify any hearing loss before any warning signs become apparent with routine examinations. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing into the future. So it’s time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for a hearing test.
