It’s hard to believe but most people have gone over ten years without having a hearing exam.
One of those individuals is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her annual medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she never remembers to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing assessments are essential for a multitude of reasons, the most notable of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to discover the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Determining how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So you should have your hearing tested how often?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or we might think it’s perfectly normal. Her age will greatly determine our reaction. Depending on age, guidelines will vary.
- If you are over fifty years old: The general suggestion is that anyone over fifty years old should make an appointment for yearly hearing tests Hearing loss is more likely to have an affect on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. In addition, there could be other health issues that can affect your hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s generally recommended that you undergo a hearing exam once every three to ten years or so. Of course, it’s ok to get a hearing exam more often. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s quick, easy, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
Signs you need to have your hearing tested
Naturally, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to experience some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you need to make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
A few of the signs that should motivate you to get a hearing exam include:
- You need people to talk louder or repeat themselves.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Phone conversations are becoming more difficult to hear.
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to add up. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
How will a hearing test help?
Harper may be late getting her hearing test for several reasons.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
Discovering hearing problems before they create permanent hearing loss is the precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an affect on your general health.