When should you get a hearing test? Here are four clues that you need to have your hearing assessed.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
There aren’t all that many excuses not to make an appointment for a hearing test. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there’s no radiation. It’s really just that you haven’t put aside time to do it.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t gotten worse.
Hearing assessments are important for many reasons. Even mild hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s almost impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing assessment.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are a few ways to know 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 signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good plan to get a professional hearing exam. 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 obvious:
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made 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 can’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more everyday sounds.
- Chronic ringing in your ears: A typical sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But it’s definitely a sign that you should schedule a hearing test.
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a loud environment: Have you ever been to a crowded or loud room and had difficulty following the conversation because of all the background noise? That could actually be a sign of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss advances.
- It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition. One of the first symptoms of hearing loss is difficulty making out conversations. It might be time for a hearing screening if you detect this occurring more and more often.
This list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few more:
- It’s difficult to pinpoint the source of sounds
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- Your ears are not removing earwax thoroughly
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t clear up
This checklist is certainly not exhaustive. There are other examples of red flags (if, for instance, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still want it to go just a little bit louder). It would be a smart plan to follow up on any of these symptoms.
Regular checkups
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how often you should go get your hearing checked? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, actually, some suggestions.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should have a hearing assessment. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing seems healthy. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it checked immediately, and then yearly after that.
Routine screenings can help you discover hearing loss before any red flags develop. You will have a better chance of protecting your hearing over time the sooner you get tested. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing examination.
