At what point should you think about having your hearing evaluated? Here are a few signs that reveal you should get your hearing checked.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. My answer …” What?!” It was meant to be funny. But it also wasn’t. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I started to ponder: Should I get a hearing test?

There aren’t many good reasons not to arrange a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to feel uneasy about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to set up an appointment.

Given the substantial impact that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s vital to be proactive about keeping an eye on your hearing.

You should get your hearing tested if you detect these signs

If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it hard to catch every word? That might be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is intended to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is typically an indication of damage to your hearing.

Other signs you should schedule a hearing test:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t get rid of on your own
• You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
• Determining where sounds are coming from can be challenging
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Routine checkups

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should have your hearing checked?

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, get hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it evaluated right away and then every year afterwards.

Routine screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any symptom are evident. The earlier you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. This means you should probably turn your TV down and set up a hearing test.