When is it time to get a hearing exam? Here are four indicators that you should get your hearing checked.
I guess my TV is frequently turned up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what my reply was. 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 avoid 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 diligent about staying on top of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can affect your general health.
Hearing exams are essential for many reasons. It’s usually hard for you to observe the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even slight hearing loss can affect your health.
So how will you know if you should schedule an appointment? Here are some signs that it’s time.
You should get your hearing tested if you observe these signs
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been experiencing signs of hearing loss recently. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only indicator, and there are some signs of hearing loss that are much less obvious:
- Ringing that won’t subside: A typical sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t go away, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t go away, you should definitely come see us for a hearing test.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you missed, it’s most likely because you didn’t hear them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more common sounds.
- You have a difficult time hearing when you’re in a noisy setting: Have you ever been to a busy or noisy space and had trouble following the conversation because of all the background noise? That could actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of a healthy ear; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss advances.
- 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 definition. Difficulty following along with conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing assessment if you notice this occurring more and more frequently.
This list is not thorough, here are a few more:
- Your ears aren’t clearing earwax thoroughly
- You can’t readily determine where specific sounds are coming from
- Your ear is still plugged after an infection
- You have vertigo
- You regularly use certain medications that are known to have an impact on your hearing.
This list is certainly not exhaustive. For instance, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these signs is worth looking into.
Regular checkups
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t encountered any of these potential signs 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.
- Get a primary assessment done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing screenings or tests every three years or so. But be sure you note these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these huge periods of time.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to get it checked immediately, and then annually after that.
Routine examinations can help you identify hearing loss before any warning signs appear. You will have a better chance of preserving your hearing over time the sooner you get examined. So it’s time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for a hearing assessment.