When should you have your hearing tested? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four signs.
I guess my TV is frequently cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was funny. Because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing test.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing assessment. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t put aside time to do it.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t gotten worse.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing evaluations are essential. Even slight hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s virtually impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So when should you get your hearing tested? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
You should get your hearing tested if you notice these signs
If you’ve recently experienced any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. Naturally, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You’re always missing text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you keep finding text messages or calls that you missed, it’s probably because you didn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more everyday sounds.
- You have a difficult time hearing when you’re in a noisy environment: Have you ever been to a busy or noisy room and had difficulty hearing the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one sign of a healthy ear; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss worsens.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they speak: Often, it’s clearness not volume you have to worry about. Trouble following along with conversations is one of the first signs that something is going bad with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing assessment if you notice this occurring more and more frequently.
- 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 might or might not be a sign of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t go away, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing evaluation.
This list is not exhaustive, here are a few more:
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You experience vertigo
- You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
- You can’t easily detect where particular sounds are originating
This checklist, obviously, isn’t thorough. For example, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these symptoms is worth looking into.
Routine examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, 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 else, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some suggestions.
- Get a primary test done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing appears normal. That can be a huge chunk of 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 detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
It will be easier to discover any hearing loss before any warning signs become apparent with regular examinations. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing into the future. So it’s time to give us a call and make an appointment for a hearing examination.