When is it time to get a hearing exam? Here are four indicators that you should get your hearing assessed.
I guess my TV is frequently cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. 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 louder and louder lately. And I began to ask myself: should I have my hearing tested?
There aren’t all that many excuses not to make an appointment for a hearing test. Hearing assessments don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there isn’t any radiation. You’ve most likely just been putting it on the back-burner.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can affect your general health.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing evaluations are important. Even slight hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s almost impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing assessment.
So how can you recognize if you should schedule an appointment? Here are some clues that it’s time.
You should have your hearing tested if you notice these signs
It’s time to get a professional hearing test if you’ve been noticing symptoms of hearing loss recently. Naturally, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only indicator, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are far less apparent:
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are made to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you’re continuously missing calls or text messages, it may be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you’re unable to hear your mobile device, what else might you be missing?
- You have a difficult time hearing when you’re in a loud environment: Have you ever had a difficult time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? That may actually be a sign of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one indication of a healthy ear; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss progresses.
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is typically a sign of hearing damage. Ringing in the ear may or may not indicate hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should absolutely call us for a hearing assessment.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. One of the earlier indications of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. If you experience this happening more and more, you might want to schedule a hearing test.
Here are some other circumstances that show you should make an appointment for a hearing exam:
- You have vertigo
- You can’t easily identify where specific sounds are coming from
- You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- Your ear is still plugged after an ear infection
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are other examples of red flags (if, for instance, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little bit louder). But any one of these symptoms is worth looking into.
Regular examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t experienced any of these possible symptoms of hearing loss? So how frequently should you get your hearing screened? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should get a hearing test. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing seems normal. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get tested right away if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once every year.
Regular screenings can help you discover hearing loss before any red flags surface. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. Which means, you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing examination.