Surprisingly, it’s been over 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing exam.
One of those individuals is Harper. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her annual medical test. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing exam usually gets neglected.
Hearing assessments are essential for a variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most important. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she knows how frequently to get her hearing tested.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will vary depending on how old she is. Depending on age, recommendations will vary.
- If you are over fifty years old: The general suggestion is that anybody over the age of fifty should make an appointment for annual hearing evaluations. Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you age because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. Also, as we get older we’re more likely to be dealing with other health issues that can have an impact on hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing tests. There’s no harm in having your ears tested more frequently, of course! But once every decade is the bare minimum. And you should play it safe and get checked more frequently if you work in a job that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
Indications you need to have your hearing tested
Obviously, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you might want to come in for a consultation. Maybe you start to notice some signs of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s important to get in touch with us and schedule a hearing assessment.
Some of the clues that should prompt you to get a hearing exam include:
- Cranking your tv or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- You’re having a hard time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- Having a really tough time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to accumulate. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
There are lots of reasons why Harper might be late in getting her hearing checked.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s purposely avoiding thinking about it. But there are tangible benefits to getting your hearing examined per recommendations.
We can set up 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 detect any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
Discovering hearing issues before they produce permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Catching your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your general health.