How to Recognize When It’s Time for a Hearing Test

When should you get a hearing evaluation? Here are a few indications you need to get your hearing assessed.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. My answer …” What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to wonder: Should I get a hearing test?

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

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

Signs you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve detected any recent changes that may be indicative of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing examination with a professional is likely a wise decision. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.

• It’s hard to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of impaired hearing.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be loud. If you regularly fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Persistent ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is frequently a sign of damage to your hearing.

Here are several other situations that indicate you should arrange a hearing assessment:

• Your ear is still clogged following an infection
• You have a buildup of earwax you can’t get rid of on your own
• You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
• It is difficult to determine the source of sounds
• You have vertigo

Regular checkups

Even if you’re not experiencing any noticeable symptoms, it’s still significant to schedule routine hearing exams.

• It is recommended to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, get hearing screenings every three years.
• If you demonstrate signs of hearing loss, have it checked out right away and then every year after that.

Routine screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any symptom are obvious. Early expert attention can dramatically improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and think about setting up a hearing evaluation.