Should I Get a Hearing Test?

At what point should you think about having your hearing assessed? Here are a few signs that reveal you should have your hearing evaluated.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I started to question whether I should schedule a hearing test.

There aren’t many good reasons not to schedule a hearing exam. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to schedule an appointment.

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

You should have your hearing checked if you notice these signs

If you’ve detected any recent changes that may be indicative of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing examination with a professional is likely a wise decision. Clearly, if things are hard to hear, that’s a rather solid indication of hearing loss.

• Ambient noise can be overpowering: Have you ever struggled to focus on a conversation in a loud or crowded setting, where the surrounding din makes it hard to catch every word? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
• People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but instead clarity.
• You’re always missing text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it might be because you’re noy hearing them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.

Here are some other situations that suggest you should schedule a hearing assessment:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can’t be removed by self-cleaning methods
• You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
• Determining where sounds are originating from can be challenging
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Routine hearing evaluations

Even if you’re not experiencing any obvious symptoms, it’s still important to schedule regular hearing exams.

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• For individuals with typical hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing exam every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it evaluated right away and then annually afterwards.

Routine screenings can help you identify hearing loss before any red flags appear. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. So you should lower the volume on your television and think about setting up a hearing test.