When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four warning signs.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. You know what my response was? I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. 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 test.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing assessment. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t gotten worse.
Hearing assessments are essential for a wide variety of reasons. Even slight hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s almost impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing assessment.
So when should you have a hearing test? Here are a few ways to know if you need to consult with us.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a smart plan to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are far less obvious:
- Ringing that won’t go away: A typical sign of damaged hearing is a ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t go away, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should definitely call us for a hearing evaluation.
- You have a hard time hearing when you’re in a noisy setting: Have you ever had a difficult time following along with conversations because of background noise in a busy room? If this seems familiar you could be developing hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one sign of a healthy ear; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss advances.
- It sounds like everyone’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of definition. Trouble making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It might be time for a hearing screening if you detect this happening more and more often.
- You’re always missing text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you keep finding text messages or calls that you missed, it’s most likely because you didn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more everyday sounds.
This list isn’t thorough, here are a few more:
- You can’t easily identify where specific sounds are coming from
- Your ears are not removing earwax thoroughly
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- You frequently use certain medications that are known to have an effect on your hearing.
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t go away
This checklist is by no means exhaustive. There are other instances of warning signs (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still want it to go just a little louder). But any one of these signs is worth following up on.
Regular examinations
But how should you cope with it when you’re not sure if you have any signs of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how frequently you should schedule a hearing exam? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, actually, some suggestions.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to get a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- If your hearing is normal, have hearing screenings or tests every three years or so. But be sure you note these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these large periods of time.
- You’ll want to get checked immediately if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
Regular screenings can help you identify hearing loss before any warning signs appear. You will have a better chance of maintaining your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. So it’s time to give us a call and make an appointment for a hearing test.