Should I Get a Hearing Exam?

At what point should you consider having your hearing assessed? Here are some signs that suggest you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started to ponder: Should I get 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 be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to schedule an appointment.

Given the substantial effect that neglected hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s essential to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

Indications you should get a hearing test

If you’ve noticed any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a comprehensive hearing assessment with a professional is likely a smart decision. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a rather solid indication of hearing loss.

• Ambient noise can be overpowering: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, 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: In some cases it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of clarity.
• You’re always missing text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is typically an indication of hearing damage.

Here are a few other scenarios that suggest you should arrange a hearing screening:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
• It is difficult to determine the source of sounds
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Routine hearing evaluations

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should have your hearing tested?

• It is recommended to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• For individuals with normal hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing evaluation every three years.
• If you demonstrate symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked out immediately and then yearly after that.

Regular screenings can help you identify hearing loss before any red flags appear. The sooner you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider setting up a hearing assessment.