When should you have your hearing tested? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four warning signs.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. And guess what my reply 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.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing test. They aren’t 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.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t worsened.
Hearing exams are essential for a wide variety of reasons. Even mild hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s almost impossible to detect early hearing loss without a hearing assessment.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are some signs that it’s time.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good plan to get a professional hearing exam. 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:
- Persistent ringing in your ears: A typical sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. Ringing in the ear may or may not indicate hearing loss. But it’s definitely an indication that you should schedule a hearing test.
- It’s tough to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a busy or loud room and had difficulty hearing the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of a healthy ear; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss advances.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Often, it’s clarity not volume you need to be concerned about. One of the first symptoms of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. It may be time for a hearing assessment if you observe this happening more and more frequently.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you missed, it’s probably because you didn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more everyday sounds.
This list isn’t thorough, here are a few more:
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You can’t readily determine where specific sounds are originating
- You regularly use certain medications that are recognized to have an effect on your hearing.
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
This list, obviously, isn’t complete. There are other examples of red flags (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little louder). But any one of these signs is worth following up on.
Routine examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t encountered any of these possible symptoms of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should go get your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are suggestions.
- Get a primary assessment done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing examinations or tests every three years or so. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get tested right away if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
It will be easier to discover any hearing loss before any red flags become apparent with regular screenings. You will have a better chance of protecting your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. Which means, you should probably turn your TV down and make an appointment for a hearing examination.