When is it time to get a hearing exam? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four signs.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder as of late. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left unchecked, it can affect your overall health.
There are a lot of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. Even slight hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s nearly impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing assessment.
So when should you get a hearing test? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to come see us.
Signs you should get a hearing test
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been experiencing signs of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a hard time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- It’s hard to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or loud space and had trouble following the conversation because of all the background noise? If this sounds familiar you could be developing hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one sign of healthy hearing; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss advances.
- Chronic ringing in your ears: A common sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. Ringing in the ear may or may not point to hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should definitely call us for a hearing assessment.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you failed to hear, it’s most likely because you didn’t hear them. And if you’re unable to hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
- It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. One of the first indications of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. If you notice this happening more often, you might want to make an appointment for a hearing exam.
Here are a few other situations that indicate you should schedule a hearing evaluation:
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
- You can’t easily detect where specific sounds are coming from
- You experience vertigo
- Your ear is still plugged after an ear infection
- You regularly use certain medications that are recognized to have an effect on your hearing.
This checklist is certainly not exhaustive. For example, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a smart idea to follow up on any of these signs.
Routine checkups
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t experienced any of these possible symptoms of hearing loss? So how often should you have your hearing screened? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to get a hearing assessment. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- If your hearing is normal, have hearing screenings or tests every three years or so. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get checked right away if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
It will be easier to uncover any hearing loss before any red flags become obvious with regular screenings. You will have a better chance of maintaining your hearing over time the sooner you get tested. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing test.