When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four warning signs.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. You know what my response was? I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But, in some ways, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder as of late. And I began to ask myself: should I have my hearing tested?
There aren’t all that many excuses not to make an appointment for a hearing exam. Hearing tests don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there’s no radiation. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t worsened.
There are a lot of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. It’s often hard for you to identify the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing impairment can affect your health.
So when should you have your hearing tested? Here are a few ways to know if you need to come see us.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
If you’ve recently observed any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a smart idea to get a professional hearing exam. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a hard time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a noisy environment: Have you ever been to a crowded or loud room and had difficulty hearing the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. As your hearing progresses 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: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you missed, it’s probably because you couldn’t hear them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
- Ringing that won’t go away: A typical sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t stop, it might or might not be a symptom of hearing loss. But it’s definitely an indication that you should schedule a hearing test.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they talk: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of definition. One of the earlier indications of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. It might be time for a hearing test if you notice this occurring more and more frequently.
This list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few more:
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- You frequently use certain medications that are known to have an effect on your hearing.
- Your ears aren’t clearing earwax thoroughly
- It’s hard to determine the origin of sounds
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t go away
This checklist, clearly, is not thorough. For example, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these symptoms is worth following up on.
Regular checkups
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how frequently you should go get your hearing checked? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, actually, some suggestions.
- Get a primary test done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing appears healthy. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it checked immediately, and then yearly after that.
Routine examinations can help you discover hearing loss before any red flags appear. You will have a better chance of maintaining your hearing over time the sooner you get examined. So it’s time to give us a call and make an appointment for a hearing test.
