Should I Get a Hearing Exam?

When should you schedule a hearing test? Here are several signs you need to have your hearing checked.

The other day, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. My answer …” What?!” It was meant to be humorous. But there’s nothing comical about untreated hearing loss. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I began to ponder: Should I get a hearing exam?

There aren’t many reasons not to set up a hearing test. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without worries about your comfort level. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Thinking about how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more vigilant about it.

You should get your hearing assessed if you detect these signs

If you’ve detected any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is likely a wise decision. If it’s hard to hear, it likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of a loss of hearing.
• People always seem to be talking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but instead definition.
• You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. So, if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it could be because you aren’t hearing them.
• Persistent ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is often an indication of damage to your hearing.

Here are some other situations that indicate you should schedule a hearing assessment:

• Your ear is still clogged following an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can’t be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
• It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Routine hearing assessments

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should get your hearing tested?

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you turn 21.
• For people with normal hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing exam every three years.
• If you demonstrate signs of hearing loss, have it checked out immediately and then yearly after that.

Regular screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. The sooner you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about aranging a hearing test.