When is it time to have your hearing checked? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four warning signs.
I guess my TV is regularly turned up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. But, in reality, it was anything but funny. The TV has been getting progressively louder. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to avoid getting a hearing test. Hearing tests don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there’s no radiation. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t gotten worse.
Hearing assessments are essential for many reasons. It’s usually hard for you to identify the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing impairment can impact your health.
So when should you have a hearing test? Here are some clues that it’s time.
You should get your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently encountered any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a good plan to get a professional hearing exam. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are far less obvious:
- Ringing that won’t subside: Ringing in your ears, which is called 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 come see us for a hearing test.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you keep finding text messages or calls that you missed, it’s most likely because you couldn’t hear them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more common sounds.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they speak: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of definition. Difficulty following along with conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. If you experience this happening more often, you might want to schedule a hearing test.
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever had a hard time keeping up with conversations because of background noise in a crowded room? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one indication of healthy hearing; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss worsens.
This list is not exhaustive, here are a few more:
- You can’t readily identify where particular sounds are coming from
- You experience vertigo
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
- Your ears are not clearing earwax completely
This list, obviously, isn’t complete. For instance, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a good idea to follow up on any of these signs.
Regular examinations
But how should you cope with it when you’re not certain if you have any signs of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how often you should schedule a hearing exam? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. Well, yes, there are suggestions.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to get a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- 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 sure they’re noted 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.
Regular examinations can help you discover hearing loss before any warning signs appear. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing into the future. So it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a hearing test.