How to Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Exam

At what point should you think about having your hearing evaluated? Here are some indications you need to have your hearing assessed.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was meant to be funny. But it also wasn’t. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I began to ponder: Should I get a hearing exam?

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without worries about your comfort level. You just need to take a brief moment to set up an appointment.

Given the substantial effect that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s vital to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

Signs you should get a hearing test

If you’ve detected any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a comprehensive hearing assessment with a professional is probably a wise decision. Clearly, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.

• It’s difficult to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That could be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You’re always missing text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it could be because you’re noy hearing them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is often a sign of damage to your hearing.

Other signs you should make an appointment for a hearing test:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
• Distinguishing where sounds are coming from can be challenging
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Regular checkups

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how frequently you should get your hearing tested?

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it evaluated immediately and then yearly afterwards.

Routine screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any warnings appear. The sooner you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.