When should you have your hearing tested? Here are four clues that you should get your hearing tested.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder as of late. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing assessment. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t worsened.
There are a lot of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. It’s usually difficult for you to observe the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing impairment can affect your health.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
It’s time to get a professional hearing test if you’ve been noticing symptoms of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a loud environment: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble hearing the conversation because of all the background noise? That may actually be a sign of hearing loss. As your hearing goes from healthy to impaired, one of the first warning signs is the loss of the ability to identify distinct sounds.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you’re frequently missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
- Ringing that won’t go away: A common sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should absolutely call us for a hearing evaluation.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they talk: Often, it’s clarity not volume you have to worry about. Difficulty making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going bad with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing exam if you notice this occurring more and more frequently.
This list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few more:
- You have an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- It’s difficult to pinpoint the source of sounds
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
This list is in no way exhaustive. There are other instances of warning signs (if, for example, 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 checkups
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. So how often should you have your hearing tested? There’s a guideline for everything else, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. Well, yes, there are suggestions.
- Get a primary assessment done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing appears healthy. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get tested right away if you notice any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
Routine examinations can help you discover hearing loss before any red flags develop. You will have a better chance of preserving your hearing over time the sooner you get examined. Which means, you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.