How to Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Exam

At what point should you think about getting your hearing assessed? Here are a few indications that suggest you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was intended to be humorous. But there’s nothing funny about neglected hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to think about whether I should schedule a hearing exam.

There aren’t many reasons not to arrange a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to worry about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to schedule 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 test

If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s significant hearing impairment.

• It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of a loss of hearing.
• People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The issue may not always be volume but instead clarity.
• You’re always missing text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. So, if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it could be because you aren’t hearing them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is typically a sign of damage to your hearing.

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

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• Surplus earwax has accumulated and can not be removed by self-cleaning methods
• You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
• It is hard to identify the source of sounds
• You have vertigo

Routine hearing evaluations

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 sometime after you’re 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed immediately and then annually thereafter.

Regular screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. Early professional attention can considerably increase your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.