When is it time to get a hearing exam? Here are four signs that you should have your hearing assessed.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing test.
There aren’t really that many excuses not to schedule yourself for a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t put aside time to do it.
You should really be more vigilant about keeping track of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can impact your overall health.
There are a lot of good reasons why hearing evaluations are essential. Even slight hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s nearly impossible to detect early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are a few ways to know if you need to consult with us.
You should get your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently observed any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a smart idea to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing loss that are far less apparent:
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you failed to hear, it’s probably because you couldn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more everyday sounds.
- It sounds like everyone’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. Difficulty following along with conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. If you detect this happening more often, you might want to schedule a hearing test.
- Chronic ringing in your ears: A typical sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But it’s certainly an indication that you should get a hearing exam.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever had a difficult time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a busy room? If this seems familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to diminish as hearing loss progresses.
Here are a few other circumstances that indicate you should make an appointment for a hearing exam:
- You have vertigo
- It’s hard to pinpoint the origin of sounds
- You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
- You have an ear infection and it won’t clear up
This checklist, obviously, is not extensive. There are other instances of warning signs (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little louder). It would be a smart plan to look into any of these signs.
Routine checkups
But how should you cope with it when you’re not certain if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how often you should schedule a hearing exam? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. Well, yes, there are suggestions.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should get a hearing test. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing seems healthy. But make sure you mark these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these long periods of time.
- You’ll want to get checked immediately if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once every year.
It will be easier to identify any hearing loss before any red flags become apparent with routine examinations. The earlier you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing into the future. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing test.