Should I Get a Hearing Test?

At what point should you think about getting your hearing evaluated? Here are some indications that suggest you should have your hearing evaluated.

The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. My answer …” What?!” It was meant to be funny. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started to question whether I should set up a hearing test.

There aren’t many good reasons not to schedule 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. You just need to take a brief moment to schedule an appointment.

Considering how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.

You should get your hearing assessed if you observe these signs

If you’ve recently noticed any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a fairly strong indication of hearing loss.

• It’s difficult to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty 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 regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is frequently a sign of damage to your hearing.

Here are a few other situations that suggest you should arrange a hearing assessment:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• You have a buildup of earwax you can’t clear by yourself
• You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
• It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Regular checkups

Even if you aren’t observing any obvious symptoms, it’s still important to schedule regular hearing exams.

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you turn 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
• If you demonstrate symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked out right away and then every year after that.

Routine screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are noticeable. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about aranging a hearing assessment.