When should you get a hearing assessment? Here are a few indications that reveal you should get your hearing tested.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started to ponder: Should I get a hearing test?
There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to feel uneasy about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.
Given the substantial effect that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your general well-being, it’s critical to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.
Signs you should get a hearing exam
If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing assessment. If it’s difficult to hear, it most likely means there’s considerable hearing impairment.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had trouble following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of clarity.
- You frequently overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
- Persistent ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is frequently a sign of damage to your hearing.
Here are a few other scenarios that indicate you should schedule a hearing screening:
- Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
- Excess earwax has accumulated and can not be removed by self-cleaning methods
- Medications you’re using may be damaging your hearing
- It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
- You’re experiencing balance issues
Routine hearing evaluations
But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how frequently you should get your hearing tested?
- Get a baseline test done at some point after you’re 21.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing screenings every three years.
- If you demonstrate signs of hearing loss, have it checked right away and then every year after that.
Regular screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are obvious. The sooner you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing evaluation.