Adult Hearing Testing
Who should get a hearing test?
Hearing loss is usually gradual and can be difficult to notice at first. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends that adults be tested at least every decade through age 50 and at 3-year intervals thereafter. If there are risk factors for early onset hearing loss such as family history, or exposure to loud noise, you may need to have your hearing checked more often.
You should get a hearing test if you find yourself:
- Straining to hear conversations
- Asking family and friends to repeat themselves often
- Pretending to understand what someone said when you didn’t
- Listening to the TV at a level that others complain about
- Turning the volume up all the way on your phone or using it on speakerphone
Why should I take action regarding my hearing loss?
Hearing healthcare is preventative care. You already know that untreated hearing loss impacts communication and relationships, but research shows that untreated hearing loss can also:
- Affect memory
- Increase stress
- Increase risk of falls
- Slow cognitive speed as more effort is directed toward hearing
- Cause feelings of isolation as individuals withdraw from activities they once enjoyed
What will a hearing test show?
Hearing tests measure your ability to hear different pitches at different volumes, as well as your ability to understand speech. This information is used to create a graph of your hearing called an audiogram. The audiogram can help explain why you may hear certain sounds well but still not understand speech clearly. The audiogram is like your prescription. It allows us to make recommendations for your specific needs, and if you do get hearing aids, the audiogram also helps us program your hearing aids to your prescription.