Should I Get a Hearing Test?

When should you get a hearing assessment? Here are a few signs that reveal you should have your hearing checked.

Recently, my children expressed discontent with the loud volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to wonder: Should I get a hearing test?

There aren’t many reasons not to schedule a hearing exam. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without worries about your level of comfort. Simply take a quick moment to book an appointment.

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

You should have your hearing assessed if you observe these signs

If you’ve noticed any recent changes that might be indicative of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing examination with a professional is probably a smart decision. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a fairly solid indication of hearing loss.

• Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a loud or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it hard to hear every word? It’s possible that this might be an indication of impaired hearing.
• People always seem to be talking unclearly: The issue might not always be volume but instead definition.
• You frequently overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be loud. If you frequently fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is often an indication of hearing damage.

Other signs you should make an appointment for a hearing test:

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• You have a buildup of earwax you can’t remove on your own
• You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
• It is hard to identify the source of sounds
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Regular checkups

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how often you should get your hearing checked?

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you’re 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing screenings every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it evaluated immediately and then every year afterwards.

Routine assessments can help you detect hearing loss before any warnings appear. Prompt expert attention can dramatically increase your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about setting up a hearing evaluation.