How to Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Test

At what point should you think about having your hearing assessed? Here are a few signs that suggest you should get your hearing checked.

Recently, my children expressed discontent with the loud volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was meant to be humerous. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I began to ponder: Should I get a hearing test?

There aren’t many good reasons not to set up a hearing exam. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to feel uneasy about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to book an appointment.

Thinking about how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.

Signs you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good idea to get a professional hearing assessment. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to focus on a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it difficult to hear every word? It’s possible that this might be an indication of impaired hearing.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. If you regularly fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is frequently an indication of damage to your hearing.

Other signs you should schedule a hearing test:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can’t be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• Medications you’re using might be damaging your hearing
• Determining where sounds are originating from can be difficult
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Routine hearing evaluations

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should get your hearing tested?

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is normal, get hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed right away and then annually afterwards.

Regular assessments can help you identify hearing loss before any red flags appear. Prompt expert attention can dramatically improve your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing evaluation.