Surprisingly, it’s been more than 10 years since most people have had a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her yearly medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing evaluations are essential for a multitude of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most essential. Determining how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing exam in 10 years. Or we might think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will vary depending on how old she is. Depending on age, guidelines will differ.
- For individuals over 50: The general suggestion is that anyone above fifty years old should schedule annual hearing tests As you age, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Moreover, as we get older we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an affect on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s usually recommended that you get a hearing test about once every three to ten years. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing exam more frequently. But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should play it safe and get checked more often if you work in a job that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, easy, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
You should get your hearing checked if you notice any of these signs.
Needless to say, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Maybe you start to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those cases, it’s important to reach out to us and schedule a hearing assessment.
A few of the clues that should motivate you to have a hearing exam include:
- Having a really hard time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Sounds become muffled; it begins to sound as though you always have water in your ears.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- You’re having a hard time making out conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to add up. 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 lots of reasons why Harper might be late in getting her hearing checked.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete benefits to having your hearing examined per guidelines.
Even if you think your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
The reason for regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to identify issues before her hearing is permanently damaged. Your ears will remain healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an affect on your overall health.