Believe it or not, it’s been more than 10 years since most people have had a hearing assessment.
One of those individuals is Harper. She goes to see her doctor for her annual medical exam and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But her hearing exam typically gets ignored.
There are many reasons to get hearing tests, the most prominent of which is that it’s often challenging for you to detect the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how often to get her hearing tested.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing assessment was over a decade ago, that’s disconcerting. Or maybe it isn’t. How old she is will greatly determine our reaction. Depending on age, recommendations will differ.
- If you are over fifty years of age: Once a year is the suggested schedule for hearing assessments in individuals over 50 years old. Hearing loss is more likely to have an affect on your life as you age because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. Plus, there may be other health concerns that can affect your hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing assessments. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing test more frequently. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. And you should be cautious and get checked more often if you work in an occupation that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no good reason not to do it.
You should have your hearing checked if you notice any of these signs.
Obviously, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you might want to come in for a consultation. Maybe you start to experience some signs of hearing loss. And in those cases, it’s important to contact us and schedule a hearing assessment.
Here are a few indications that you need a hearing test:
- You’re having a tough time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- Having a really tough time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Having a tough time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are frequently the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- You need people to talk louder or repeat themselves.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs begin to add up. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
What are the advantages of hearing testing?
Harper could be late getting her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you believe your hearing is totally healthy, a hearing exam will help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
The reason for regular hearing tests is that someone like Harper will be able to identify issues before her hearing is permanently diminished. Detecting your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. Consider the impact of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.