Believe it or not, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing exam.
One of those individuals is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her annual medical exam and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even gets her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But her hearing test typically gets neglected.
There are a number of reasons to get hearing assessments, the most prominent of which is that it’s often difficult for you to detect the earliest indications of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will stay 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 alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or perhaps it isn’t. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- For people over 50: The general suggestion is that anyone above fifty years old should make an appointment for yearly hearing tests As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. In addition, there might be other health problems that can affect your hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s generally recommended that you get a hearing exam once every three to ten years or so. Obviously, it’s fine to get a hearing test more frequently. But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. It’s quick, easy, and painless so why not come in?
Signs you need to have your hearing checked
Needless to say, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
Here are a few clues that you need a hearing exam:
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Cranking your tv or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- 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 frequently the first to go as hearing loss takes hold.)
- Having a very difficult time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- Trouble hearing conversations in loud environments.
- Sounds get muffled; it begins to sound as if you always have water inside of your ears.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs begin to add up. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
Harper may be late having her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete benefits to having your hearing examined per recommendations.
Even if you believe your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Discovering hearing problems before they produce permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Detecting your hearing loss early by having your hearing tested 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.