Surprisingly, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing assessment.
One of those individuals is Harper. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her annual medical examination. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing exam usually gets ignored.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing exams, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more important. Determining how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing assessment was over a decade ago, that’s disconcerting. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will differ depending on her age. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- If you are over fifty years old: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing assessments in people over fifty. As you age, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. In addition, there could be other health issues that can affect your hearing.
- For individuals under 50: It’s usually recommended that you get a hearing exam about once every three to ten years. Naturally, it’s ok to get a hearing test more often. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. And you should play it safe and get checked 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 get your hearing assessed
Obviously, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in and see us. Maybe you begin to experience some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s important to reach out to us and schedule a hearing test.
Some of the clues that should prompt you to get a hearing test include:
- Sounds get muffled; it begins to sound as if you always have water in your ears.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- Having a really difficult time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Cranking your tv or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat what they said during a conversation.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to accumulate. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
How will a hearing test help?
Harper may be late having her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing test will help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
The reason for regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to detect problems before her hearing is permanently damaged. Catching your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. Think about the effects of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.