When is it time to get a hearing exam? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four signs.
I guess my TV is frequently turned up to the point where my kids recently complained. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder lately. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing test.
There aren’t really that many excuses not to schedule yourself for a hearing test. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there isn’t any radiation. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t worsened.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing evaluations are important. Even slight hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s nearly impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing examination.
So when should you get a hearing test? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
You should get your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently experienced any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart idea to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a hard time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- It seems as if 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 distinction. One of the first indications of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. If you notice this happening more often, you may want to schedule a hearing test.
- Ringing that won’t clear itself up: A typical sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. Ringing in the ear may or may not point to hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing assessment.
- You have a hard time hearing when you’re in a noisy setting: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? If this sounds familiar you could be developing hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to diminish as hearing loss advances.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it may be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else might you be missing?
Here are several other circumstances that show you should schedule a hearing evaluation:
- You have an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You frequently use specific medications that are known to have an effect on your hearing.
- It’s challenging to determine the source of sounds
- You have vertigo
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
This list is by no means exhaustive. For example, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. It would be a smart idea to look into any of these signs.
Regular examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t experienced any of these potential symptoms of hearing impairment? So how often should you get your hearing tested? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Get a primary test done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- If your hearing is normal, have hearing examinations or tests every three years or so. But make sure you note these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these long periods of time.
- You’ll want to get checked right away if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once every year.
It will be easier to identify any hearing loss before any warning signs become apparent with regular examinations. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing into the future. Which means, you should probably turn down your TV and schedule a hearing examination.