It’s hard to believe but most people have gone over ten years without getting a hearing test.
One of those people is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her yearly medical test and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But she never remembers to schedule her hearing exam.
Hearing tests are important for a multitude of reasons, the most notable of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to discover the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing test was over ten years ago, that’s disconcerting. Or perhaps it isn’t. How old she is will largely determine our reaction. Depending on age, guidelines will vary.
- If you are over fifty years of age: Once annually is the suggested routine for hearing assessments in people over fifty. Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. Also, as we get older we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- For people under 50: It’s usually recommended that you get a hearing test once every three to ten years or so. There’s no harm in having your ears checked more often, of course! But once every ten years is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why not come in?
You should get your hearing tested if you experience any of these signs.
Undoubtedly, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in for a consultation. Symptoms of hearing loss might begin to surface. And when they do you should make an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
Here are some indications that you need a hearing exam:
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Having a very difficult time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Your ears sound muffled like you had water in them.
- Turning your television or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
When the above warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good indication that the ideal time to get a hearing exam is right now. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
Harper may be late getting her hearing checked for several reasons.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s deliberately avoiding thinking about it. But there are tangible advantages to having your hearing examined per recommendations.
We can set up a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. If you can catch your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better safeguard it.
The point of regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to identify issues before her hearing is permanently diminished. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an affect on your general health.