At what point should you think about having your hearing evaluated? Here are some signs you should get your hearing assessed.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was intended to be funny. But there’s nothing comical about untreated hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I started to ponder: Should I get a hearing exam?
There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to feel uneasy about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.
Given the substantial impact that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s critical to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.
You should have your hearing tested if you observe these signs
If you’ve detected any recent changes that may be indicative of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is likely a smart decision. If it’s hard to hear, it likely means there’s considerable hearing impairment.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had trouble following the conversation because of all the background noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
- You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them.
- Relentless ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is typically an indication of damage to your hearing.
Other signs you should schedule a hearing test:
- Your ear is still blocked following an infection
- Excess earwax has amassed and can’t be removed by self-cleaning approaches
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- Distinguishing where sounds are originating from can be difficult
- You’re experiencing balance issues
Routine hearing assessments
But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should have your hearing checked?
- It is recommended to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
- For people with normal hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing assessment every three years.
- If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked right away and then every year thereafter.
Regular screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are noticeable. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.