When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing test if you have any of these four warning signs.
I guess my TV is regularly cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But, in reality, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up increasingly louder lately. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing test.
It really doesn’t make much sense to avoid getting a hearing assessment. Hearing tests don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there isn’t any radiation. You’ve most likely just been putting it on the back-burner.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t gotten worse.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing evaluations are important. Even slight hearing loss can have an impact 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 schedule an appointment? Here are a few ways to know if you need to come see us.
Signs you should get a hearing test
It’s time to get a professional hearing test if you’ve been experiencing symptoms of hearing loss recently. Clearly, it’s a strong indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You’re always missing text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called now) is made to be loud. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you failed to hear, it’s most likely because you couldn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more common sounds.
- It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever had a hard time following along with conversations because of ambient noise in a crowded room? If this sounds familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. As your hearing progresses from healthy to impaired, one of the first signs is the loss of the ability to identify distinct sounds.
- It seems as if people are mumbling when they talk: Often, it’s clearness not volume you have to worry about. Trouble making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing assessment if you observe this occurring more and more frequently.
- Ringing that won’t go away: A typical sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. Ringing in the ear may or may not indicate hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t clear itself up, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing assessment.
This list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few more:
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
- It’s challenging to determine the source of sounds
- You have vertigo
- Your ears are not clearing earwax completely
- You regularly use specific medications that are known to have an impact on your hearing.
This list, clearly, isn’t complete. There are other examples of red flags (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little bit louder). But any one of these symptoms is worth looking into.
Regular examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t encountered any of these possible symptoms of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should schedule a hearing exam? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should get a hearing test. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- If your hearing is healthy, have hearing screenings or tests every three years or so. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- You’ll want to get checked right away if you notice any signs of hearing loss and after that once a year.
Regular screenings can help you identify hearing loss before any red flags appear. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing into the future. So it’s time to give us a call and make an appointment for a hearing assessment.
