When should you get a hearing test? Here are several signs you need to get your hearing checked.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. My answer …” What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing comical about untreated hearing loss. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I began to ponder: Should I get a hearing test?
There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. Simply take a quick moment to book an appointment.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more vigilant about it.
You should have your hearing checked if you notice these signs
If you’ve noticed any recent changes that may be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing assessment with a professional is likely a wise decision. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a rather strong indication of hearing loss.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had difficulty following the conversation because of all the background noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of a loss of 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 definition.
- You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. If you frequently fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
- Relentless ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is often a sign of damage to your hearing.
Here are a few other situations that suggest you should schedule a hearing assessment:
- Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
- You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t clear by yourself
- You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
- It is hard to pinpoint the source of sounds
- You have vertigo
Routine checkups
But what if you haven’t recognized 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.
- For people with typical hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing test every three years.
- If you demonstrate symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked out immediately and then yearly after that.
Routine assessments can help you detect hearing loss before any warnings appear. Early professional attention can significantly improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and think about aranging a hearing evaluation.