According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. One of those people is Sofia. She knows to have her oil changed every 3000 miles, she sees the dentist every six months, and she checks in dutifully for her annual medical examination. But she can’t remember the last time she took a hearing test or underwent any kind of accurate hearing assessment.
Hearing exams are important for a wide variety of reasons, the most notable of which is that it’s normally hard for you to notice the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Knowing how frequently she should get a hearing test will help Sofia keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
How Often Each Year Should my Hearing Get Tested?
If the last time Sofia took a hearing examination was a decade ago, we could be worried. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our response, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, likely will vary depending on her age. That’s because hearing professionals have different recommendations based on age.
- If you’re over fifty years old: The general suggestion is that anyone above the age of fifty should get hearing checks every year. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve suffered over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Plus, there are other health issues that can affect your hearing.
- It’s normally recommended that you take a hearing exam every three years or so. Obviously, if you feel you should get your ears examined more frequently, there is no harm. The minimum is every three years. You should certainly get tested more frequently if you are frequently in a loud setting. There’s no reason not to get it done, it’s painless and simple.
When it comes to your hearing, more often is certainly better. The sooner you identify any issues, the sooner you’ll be able to address whatever loss of hearing that may have developed since your last hearing exam.
Signs You Should Get Your Hearing Checked
There are certainly other times besides your yearly hearing exam that you may want to make an appointment with your hearing specialist. For example, if you notice signs of hearing loss. And in those circumstances, it’s typically a good idea to immediately contact a hearing professional and schedule a hearing test.
Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:
- Difficulties hearing discussions in loud surroundings.
- Cranking your television or car stereo to extremely high volumes (if your neighbors start complaining, that’s a good sign you need to see a hearing specialist right away).
- Sounds become muffled; it’s starting to sound as if you always have water in your ears.
- It’s normal for hearing loss in the high pitched register to go first and since consonants are in a higher pitched register than vowels, they generally go first.
- Constantly asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Phone conversations are always hard to hear.
When these warning signs begin to accumulate, it’s a strong sign that the perfect time to have a hearing test is right now. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
Hearing Exams, What Are The Benefits?
Sophia may be late for her hearing exam for many reasons. Denial is a top choice. It could be that she’s just avoiding dealing with it. But there are actual benefits to having your hearing tested per recommendations.
And it will be simpler to detect hearing deviations in the future if you have your hearing tested by forming a baseline reading even if it seems as if everything is normal. If you detect your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can protect it better.
The reason for regular hearing testing is that somebody like Sofia will be in a position to detect problems before her hearing is permanently diminished. Early detection by a hearing examination can help your hearing be healthy for a long time. It’s important to consider how hearing loss will affect your overall state of health.