When is it time to get a hearing exam? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four signs.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what my response was? I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder lately. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
There aren’t really that many reasons not to make an appointment for 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 put aside time to do it.
You should really be more diligent about keeping track of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can impact your general health.
There are a lot of good reasons why hearing assessments are important. It’s often difficult for you to observe the earliest indications of hearing loss without one, and even slight hearing loss can impact your health.
So when should you get your hearing tested? Here are some indications that it’s time.
You should have your hearing tested if you experience these signs
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been experiencing signs of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You’re always missing 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 may be because you can’t hear them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more everyday sounds.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever had a difficult time keeping up with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? That could actually be a sign of hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss advances.
- It sounds like everyone’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. Trouble making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing screening if you observe this occurring more and more often.
- Ringing that won’t subside: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is frequently a sign of hearing damage. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But it’s certainly a sign that you should get a hearing assessment.
Here are a few other circumstances that show you should make an appointment for a hearing evaluation:
- You can’t easily detect where particular sounds are coming from
- You have an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
This checklist is in no way exhaustive. There are other examples of red flags (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still want it to go just a little louder). But any one of these signs is worth following up on.
Regular examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t encountered any of these potential symptoms of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should schedule a hearing exam? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to have a hearing test. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing examinations or tests every three years or so. 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 tested immediately if you notice any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
Routine screenings can help you discover hearing loss before any red flags develop. The earlier you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing into the future. So it’s time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for a hearing assessment.
