It’s hard to believe 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 replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she never remembers to schedule her hearing test.
There are many reasons to get hearing exams, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more important. Knowing how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper got a hearing assessment was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or maybe it isn’t. How old she is will largely determine our reaction. Depending on age, recommendations will vary.
- For individuals over 50: The general suggestion is that anybody over fifty years old should schedule yearly hearing evaluations. Hearing loss is more likely to have an affect on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. Moreover, as we age we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- For people under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing assessments. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing test more often. But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no good reason not to do it.
You should get your hearing assessed if you experience any of these signs.
Of course, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Signs of hearing loss might begin to crop up. And in those instances, it’s important to contact us and schedule a hearing exam.
Here are a few indications that you need a hearing test:
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Having a very hard time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- Trouble hearing conversations in loud environments.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Sounds become muffled; it starts to sound as though you always have water in your ears.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to add up. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
There are lots of reasons why Harper might be late in getting her hearing checked.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help identify any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better safeguard it.
The point of regular hearing tests is that someone like Harper will be able to identify problems before her hearing is permanently damaged. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. Think about the effects of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.