Surprisingly, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing assessment.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her yearly medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing test normally gets ignored.
Hearing assessments are essential for a variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most essential. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing tested.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing exam was over ten years ago, that’s disconcerting. Or perhaps it isn’t. Our reaction will differ depending on her age. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- For individuals over 50: Once annually is the suggested routine for hearing tests in individuals over 50 years old. As you age, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start impacting your life. In addition, there might be other health concerns that can affect your hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing assessments. Naturally, it’s fine to get a hearing test more often. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
You need to get your hearing assessed if you notice any of these signs.
Undoubtedly, there are other times, besides the yearly exam, that you might want to come in and see us. Maybe you start to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And when they do you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test.
A few of the signs that should motivate you to have a hearing test include:
- Difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- Having a really tough time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
- Having a hard time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are often the first to go as hearing loss takes hold.)
- Sounds get muffled; it begins to sound as if you always have water in your ears.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
When the above warning signs start to add up, it’s a good sign that the ideal time to get a hearing test is right now. 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 could be late getting her hearing checked for several reasons.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Detecting hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the precise reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Detecting your hearing loss early by having your hearing tested when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an impact on your general health.