Surprisingly, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her annual medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But her hearing test typically gets neglected.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing assessments, the most prominent of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to discover the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how often to get her hearing tested.
So, just how frequently should you get a hearing exam?
If the last time Harper got a hearing test was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or maybe it isn’t. Her age will greatly determine our reaction. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- If you are over fifty years of age: Once a year is the suggested schedule for hearing tests in people over fifty. As you age, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Plus, there may be other health problems that can affect your hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing exams. Naturally, it’s fine to get a hearing test more often. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no good reason not to do it.
You should have your hearing checked if you notice any of these signs.
Obviously, there are other occasions, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in for a consultation. Perhaps you begin to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those situations, it’s important to get in touch with us and schedule a hearing test.
Some of the clues that should motivate you to get a hearing test include:
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
- You’re having a hard time making out conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- Having a really hard time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Turning your television or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
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 an evaluation.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in having her hearing checked.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe 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 presently healthy. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
The reason for regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to detect issues before her hearing is permanently diminished. Recognizing your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. Consider the impact of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.
