It’s hard to believe but most people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical test. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing test.
There are a number of reasons to get hearing assessments, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most significant. Knowing how often she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
So, just how often should you have a hearing test?
If the last time Harper got a hearing exam was over a decade ago, that’s alarming. 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.
- If you are over fifty years of age: Once annually is the suggested schedule for hearing exams in individuals over fifty. As you age, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Plus, there might be other health issues that can impact your hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: It’s usually recommended that you take a hearing test about once every three to ten years. There’s no harm in getting your ears tested more frequently, of course! But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should be cautious and get checked more often if you work in a job that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no good reason not to do it.
You need to get your hearing checked if you notice any of these signs.
Undoubtedly, there are other times, besides the yearly exam, that you may want to come in for a consultation. Perhaps you start to notice some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you need to make an appointment with us for a hearing test.
A few of the clues that should motivate you to have a hearing exam include:
- Trouble hearing conversations in loud environments.
- Your ears seem muffled as if you had water in them.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- Phone conversations are becoming more difficult to hear.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
When the above warning signs start to add up, it’s a good sign that the perfect time to get a hearing test is right now. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
Harper may be late getting her hearing test for several reasons.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s deliberately avoiding thinking about it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is totally 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 recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
The point of regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to identify problems before her hearing is permanently diminished. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your overall health.