When should you get a hearing test? Here are four clues that you should get your hearing checked.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. Do you know what my response was? I said, “What”? It was funny. Because it was a joke. 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.
There aren’t really that many excuses not to make an appointment for a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. You’ve probably just been putting it on the back-burner.
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 lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are important. Even mild hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s virtually impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are some clues that it’s time.
You should get your hearing tested if you notice these signs
If you’ve recently encountered any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart plan to get a professional hearing screening. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy places: Have you ever had a difficult time keeping up with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? If this sounds familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one sign of a healthy ear; this ability tends to diminish as hearing loss advances.
- Chronic ringing in your ears: A common sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing assessment.
- You’re always missing text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you’re frequently missing calls or text messages, it might be because you can’t hear them. And if you’re unable to hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
- It seems like people are mumbling when they talk: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition. Difficulty making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. If you detect this happening more and more, you may want to schedule a hearing exam.
This list is not thorough, here are a few more:
- You experience vertigo
- Your ears aren’t clearing earwax thoroughly
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- You can’t easily detect where particular sounds are coming from
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an ear infection
This checklist, obviously, isn’t extensive. For example, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a good plan to look into any of these signs.
Routine checkups
But how should you cope with it when you’re not sure if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. So how frequently should you have your hearing screened? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. 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.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing seems normal. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- If you notice signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it checked right away, and then annually after that.
Routine screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. The earlier you find treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. Which means, you should probably turn down your TV and schedule a hearing test.