When is it time to have your hearing checked? Here are four clues that you need to have your hearing assessed.
I guess my TV is frequently cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. Do you know what my response was? I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting progressively louder. And I began to wonder: should I get a hearing test?
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing assessment. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there isn’t any radiation. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t worsened.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. Even mild hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s almost impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing examination.
So when should you get a hearing test? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been experiencing symptoms of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t go away, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t clear itself up, you should definitely come see us for a hearing test.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called now) is designed to be loud. So if you’re frequently missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else might you be missing?
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever had a hard time keeping up with conversations because of background noise in a crowded room? If this sounds familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one sign of a healthy ear; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss progresses.
- It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s clearness not volume you have to worry about. One of the first signs of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. If you experience this happening more and more, you may want to make an appointment for a hearing exam.
This list is not exhaustive, here are a few more:
- You have vertigo
- Your ear is still plugged after an infection
- It’s difficult to determine the source of sounds
- You regularly use specific medications that are known to have an impact on your hearing.
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
This list, obviously, is not extensive. For example, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a smart plan to follow up on any of these symptoms.
Routine examinations
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any signs of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how often you should schedule a hearing exam? There’s a guideline for everything else, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. Well, yes, there are suggestions.
- Get a baseline exam done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing seems healthy. But be 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 tested immediately if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
It will be easier to uncover any hearing loss before any warning signs become apparent with regular examinations. You will have a better chance of preserving your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing test.