It’s hard to believe but most individuals have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical test. She even gets her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But her hearing exam usually gets neglected.
There are many reasons to get hearing tests, the most notable of which is that it’s normally difficult for you to detect the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will stay as healthy as possible if she determines how often to get her hearing tested.
So you should have your hearing examined how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing assessment was over ten years ago, that’s disconcerting. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will differ depending on how old she is. Depending on age, recommendations will differ.
- If you are over fifty years old: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing assessments in people over fifty. Hearing loss is more likely to have an affect on your life as you age because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. In addition, there may be other health issues that can impact your hearing.
- For people under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing assessments. Obviously, it’s fine to get a hearing assessment more frequently. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. And you should be cautious and get checked more frequently if you work in an occupation that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
You should get your hearing assessed if you experience any of these signs.
Naturally, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Symptoms of hearing loss may begin to crop up. And when they do you should make an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
Here are some indications that you need a hearing test:
- You’re having a difficult time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Having a very tough time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat what they said.
- Your ears seem muffled as if you had water in them.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
When the previously mentioned warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good indication that the perfect time to get a hearing test is right now. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
There are lots of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing test.
It might have slipped her mind.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete advantages to having your hearing examined per guidelines.
Even if you think your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. If you can catch your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better protect it.
Detecting hearing issues before they create permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your overall health.