When is it time to get a hearing exam? Here are four signs that you need to have your hearing assessed.
I guess my TV is regularly turned up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder lately. And I started to wonder: should I get a hearing test?
There aren’t really that many excuses not to schedule yourself for a hearing test. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there’s no radiation. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t worsened.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. Even slight hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s almost impossible to detect early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So when should you get your hearing tested? Here are a few ways to know if you need to consult with us.
Signs you should get a hearing test
It’s time to get a professional hearing test if you’ve been noticing signs of hearing loss recently. 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:
- It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, 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. If you detect this happening more often, you might want to schedule a hearing test.
- You always miss 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 failed to hear, it’s most likely because you didn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more everyday sounds.
- Ringing that won’t go away: A common sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. Ringing in the ear might or might not indicate hearing loss. But it’s certainly a sign that you should schedule a hearing exam.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever had a hard time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? That could actually be a sign of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one indication of a healthy ear; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss progresses.
Here are a few other circumstances that indicate you should make an appointment for a hearing screening:
- You have vertigo
- You frequently use certain medications that are recognized to have an effect on your hearing.
- Your ears are not clearing earwax completely
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an ear infection
- You can’t readily detect where specific sounds are coming from
This list is by no means exhaustive. 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 symptoms.
Routine checkups
But what if, to your awareness, you haven’t experienced any of these possible signs of hearing impairment? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should schedule a hearing exam? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Get a baseline test done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- 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 certain they’re marked 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 every year.
Routine examinations can help you detect hearing loss before any warning signs develop. The earlier you find treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. So it’s time to give us a call and make an appointment for a hearing examination.