It’s difficult to believe but most individuals have gone over ten years without having a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical test. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But her hearing test normally gets ignored.
Hearing evaluations are essential for a multitude of reasons, the most prominent of which is that it’s often challenging for you to detect the earliest indications of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how often to get her hearing tested.
So you should have your hearing examined how often?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing test in 10 years. Or we might think it’s completely normal. Her age will greatly determine our reaction. Depending on age, recommendations will vary.
- For individuals over 50: Once a year is the suggested schedule for hearing tests in people over 50 years old. As you age, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start impacting your life. Also, as we get older we’re more likely to be dealing with other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing tests. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more frequently, of course! But the bare minimum is once every ten years. And you should be cautious and get checked more often if you work in an occupation that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
You need to have your hearing checked if you notice any of these signs.
Obviously, there are other occasions, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in and see us. Perhaps you begin to experience some signs of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s important to reach out to us and schedule a hearing assessment.
Here are a few indications that you need a hearing test:
- Having a very tough time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Sounds become muffled; it begins to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- You’re having a tough time making out conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- Having a tough time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are often the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
- Cranking your tv or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat what they said during a conversation.
When the previously mentioned warning signs start to add up, it’s a good indication that the ideal time to get a hearing test is right now. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
How will a hearing test help?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper might be late in getting her hearing test.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete benefits to having your hearing tested per guidelines.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Discovering hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Recognizing your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. Think about the impact of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.
