Should I Get a Hearing Test?

When should you schedule a hearing exam? Here are a few signs that reveal you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my children expressed discontent with the high volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing comical about untreated hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I began to question whether I should set up 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 worry about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to book an appointment.

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

You should have your hearing tested if you detect these signs

If you’ve noticed any recent changes that might be indicative of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is probably a wise decision. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• Ambient noise can be overpowering: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a loud or crowded setting, where the surrounding din makes it difficult to catch every word? That may be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You regularly miss text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly fail to notice 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 typically an indication of damage to your hearing.

Other indications you should schedule a hearing test:

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• Excess earwax has amassed and can’t be removed by self-cleaning methods
• You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
• Distinguishing where sounds are originating from can be challenging
• You have vertigo

Routine checkups

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how often you should have your hearing checked?

• It is recommended to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• For people with normal hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing assessment every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed right away and then every year afterwards.

Routine screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. The earlier you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. This means you should probably turn your TV down and set up a hearing test.