Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing test.
One of those individuals is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her annual medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she never remembers to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing evaluations are important for a variety of reasons, the most prominent of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to discover the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Determining how often she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So, just how often should you have a hearing assessment?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing test in 10 years. Or we might think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- For individuals over 50: The general recommendation is that anybody over fifty years old should schedule annual hearing tests As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. In addition, there might be other health problems that can affect your hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing tests. Of course, it’s ok to get a hearing exam more often. But the bare minimum is once every decade. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s quick, easy, and painless so why not come in?
You need to have your hearing checked if you notice any of these signs.
Naturally, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Signs of hearing loss may begin to surface. And in those situations, it’s important to contact us and schedule a hearing exam.
A few of the clues that should motivate you to get a hearing exam include:
- You’re having a hard time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Having a difficult 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.)
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Sounds become muffled; it begins to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- Having a very tough time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
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 going on with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
How will a hearing test help?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing checked.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s deliberately avoiding thinking about it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you believe your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Detecting hearing issues before they produce permanent hearing loss is the precise reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will stay healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. Think about the impact of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.
