When should you get a hearing test? Here are four clues that you need to get your hearing checked.
I guess my TV is frequently turned up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to wonder: should I have my hearing tested?
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left unchecked, it can impact your overall health.
Hearing evaluations are important for many reasons. Even mild hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s almost impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing examination.
So how can you recognize if you should schedule an appointment? Here are some clues that it’s time.
You should get your hearing tested if you notice these signs
It’s time to get a professional hearing assessment if you’ve been noticing symptoms of hearing loss recently. Naturally, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are far less apparent:
- Persistent ringing in your ears: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is typically a symptom of hearing damage. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But it’s certainly an indication that you should schedule a hearing test.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they talk: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. Trouble following along with conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing screening if you observe this occurring more and more often.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever had a hard time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? That could actually be an indication of hearing loss. As your hearing goes from healthy to impaired, one of the first warning signs is the loss of the ability to identify specific sounds.
- You’re always missing text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it might be because you can’t hear them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else might you be missing?
Here are a few other circumstances that indicate you should schedule a hearing exam:
- Your ear is still plugged after an ear infection
- It’s hard to pinpoint the source of sounds
- You experience vertigo
- Your ears are not removing earwax completely
- You regularly use specific medications that are recognized to have an effect on your hearing.
This list, clearly, is not complete. There are other instances of warning signs (if, for instance, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little bit louder). It would be a smart idea to follow up on any of these signs.
Regular checkups
But how should you cope with it when you’re not sure if you have any signs of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how frequently you should go get your hearing checked? There’s a guideline for everything else, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, actually, some suggestions.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should get a hearing assessment. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing seems normal. But make sure you mark these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these large periods of time.
- You’ll want to get tested right away if you notice any signs of hearing loss and after that once every year.
Routine screenings can help you discover hearing loss before any warning signs surface. 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.