It’s difficult to comprehend but most individuals have gone over ten years without getting a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her annual medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing exam.
There are many reasons to get hearing assessments, the most notable of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to discover the earliest indications of hearing loss without one. Determining how often she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So, just how frequently should you have a hearing assessment?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing test in 10 years. Or perhaps it isn’t. Her age will greatly determine our reaction. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For individuals over 50: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing exams in people over 50 years old. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Also, as we age we’re more likely to have other health problems that can have an affect on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing tests. Of course, it’s fine to get a hearing test more often. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. And you should play it safe and get tested more frequently if you work in an occupation that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s fast, easy, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
Signs you need to have your hearing assessed
Naturally, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you should make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
Here are some indications that you need a hearing exam:
- Asking people to slow down or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- Trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments.
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- Phone conversations are becoming more difficult to hear.
- Turning your television or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- Having a difficult 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.)
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs start to accumulate. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
How will a hearing test help?
Harper may be late getting her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has tangible benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better safeguard it.
Discovering hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the precise reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Catching your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. Consider the effects of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.
