It’s difficult to comprehend but most individuals have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical test. She even gets her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But she never remembers to schedule her hearing exam.
Hearing evaluations are important for a wide variety of reasons, the most notable of which is that it’s normally difficult for you to detect the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Determining how often she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing examined how often?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing test in 10 years. Or perhaps it isn’t. Her age will largely determine our reaction. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- For individuals over 50: Once annually is the recommended schedule for hearing exams in individuals over 50 years old. Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you age because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. In addition, there might be other health issues that can impact your hearing.
- For people under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing assessments. Naturally, it’s ok to get a hearing assessment more frequently. But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s fast, simple, and painless so why not come in?
You should have your hearing assessed if you notice any of these signs.
Undoubtedly, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in and see us. Signs of hearing loss might start to surface. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
A few of the signs that should prompt you to have a hearing test include:
- Turning your television or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Phone conversations are becoming more difficult to hear.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Sounds become muffled; it starts to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to add up. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
What are the advantages of hearing testing?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper might be late in having her hearing test.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing exam will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Discovering hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will stay healthy longer by having these regular screenings. Consider the effects of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.
