When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four warning signs.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But, in reality, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder lately. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing test.
It really doesn’t make much sense to avoid 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 evaluations are important for a wide variety of reasons. Even slight hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s almost impossible to detect early hearing loss without a hearing examination.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are several ways to know if you need to consult with us.
You should get your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently observed any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s definitely 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 much less apparent:
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. One of the first symptoms of hearing loss is difficulty making out conversations. If you experience this happening more often, you might want to schedule a hearing exam.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or loud space and had trouble hearing the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one sign of healthy hearing; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss progresses.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Your cellphone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you’re continuously missing calls or text messages, it may be because you aren’t hearing them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re failing to hear more everyday sounds.
- Persistent ringing in your ears: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is frequently a sign of hearing damage. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t go away, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t go away, you should definitely call us for a hearing evaluation.
Here are several other situations that show you should make an appointment for a hearing exam:
- You frequently use certain medications that are recognized to have an effect on your hearing.
- You can’t easily determine where specific sounds are coming from
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t clear up
This checklist, clearly, isn’t thorough. For example, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a smart idea to look into any of these symptoms.
Routine 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 often you should go get your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to have a hearing test. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing appears healthy. But make sure you note these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these huge periods of time.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it assessed right away, and then annually after that.
Routine examinations can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags surface. The earlier you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. Which means, you should probably turn down your TV and make an appointment for a hearing assessment.