When is it time to have your hearing checked? Here are four indicators that you need to get your hearing assessed.
I guess my TV is frequently turned up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But, in reality, it was anything but funny. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to avoid getting a hearing assessment. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can impact your overall health.
Hearing assessments are important for a wide variety of reasons. Even mild hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s virtually impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So how will you know if you should make an appointment? Here are some signs that it’s time.
You should have your hearing tested if you notice these signs
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s definitely a good plan to get a professional hearing exam. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Your cellphone (or mobile device, as they’re called now) is made to be loud. So if you’re frequently missing calls or text messages, it may be because you can’t hear them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more common sounds.
- You have a difficult time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever had a hard time following along with conversations because of background noise in a crowded room? That could actually be an indication of hearing loss. Being able to isolate sounds is one sign of a healthy ear; this ability tends to decline as hearing loss advances.
- Ringing that won’t subside: 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 it’s definitely a sign that you should get a hearing test.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they talk: Often, it’s clearness not volume you need to be concerned about. Difficulty making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going bad with your hearing. It might be time for a hearing screening if you detect this happening more and more often.
This list isn’t thorough, here are a few more:
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- You have an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- Your ears are not clearing earwax completely
- It’s difficult to determine the source of sounds
This checklist, obviously, isn’t extensive. For instance, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. It would be a smart idea to follow up on any of these signs.
Routine checkups
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t experienced any of these possible symptoms of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should go get your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, actually, some recommendations.
- Get a primary assessment done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing appears normal. But be sure you mark these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these large periods of time.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to get it tested right away, and then annually after that.
It will be easier to discover any hearing loss before any red flags become apparent with regular screenings. The earlier you find treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing into the future. Which means, you should probably turn down your TV and schedule a hearing examination.