When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four 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 reality, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder as of late. And I began to ask myself: should I have my hearing tested?
There aren’t really that many reasons not to make an appointment for a hearing exam. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
You should really be more vigilant about keeping track of your hearing because, if left unchecked, it can affect your overall health.
Hearing evaluations are essential for many reasons. It’s usually difficult for you to discover the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing loss can impact your health.
So when should you get your hearing tested? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to come see us.
You should get your hearing tested if you observe these signs
If you’ve recently experienced any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart plan to get a professional hearing screening. Naturally, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are far less apparent:
- Persistent ringing in your ears: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is typically a symptom of hearing damage. Ringing in the ear might or might not point to hearing loss. But it’s definitely an indication that you should get a hearing exam.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you’re continuously missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else might you be missing?
- It seems as if people are mumbling when they talk: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of distinction. One of the earlier indications of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. It may be time for a hearing exam if you notice this happening more and more frequently.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever had a difficult time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a busy room? That may actually be a sign of hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to diminish as hearing loss progresses.
This list is not exhaustive, here are a few more:
- It’s challenging to pinpoint the origin of sounds
- You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
- You have an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- Your ears aren’t clearing earwax thoroughly
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
This list, clearly, is not extensive. For instance, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these symptoms is worth following up on.
Routine examinations
But what if, to your awareness, you haven’t encountered any of these potential signs of hearing impairment? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should go get your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, actually, some recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to get a hearing assessment. That way, you’ll have a standard 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 certain they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get assessed immediately if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
Routine screenings can help you identify hearing loss before any red flags develop. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing into the future. Which means, you should probably turn your TV down and make an appointment for a hearing examination.