It’s hard to comprehend but most people have gone more than ten years without having a hearing test.
One of those individuals is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her annual medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even gets her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But her hearing exam usually gets ignored.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing exams, the most notable of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to detect the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. 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 you should have your hearing tested how often?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. 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: The general suggestion is that anyone over the age of fifty should schedule yearly hearing assessments As you get older, 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 problems that can have an affect on hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing exams. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing assessment more frequently. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why not come in?
You should get your hearing tested if you notice any of these signs.
Undoubtedly, there are other occasions, besides the annual exam, that you might want to come in for a consultation. Signs of hearing loss may start to crop up. And when they do you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
A few of the clues that should motivate you to have a hearing exam include:
- Having a tough time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are often the first to go as hearing loss takes hold.)
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
- Having a really difficult time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You’re having a hard time making out conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to accumulate. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
Harper may be late getting her hearing test for a number of reasons.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete advantages to having your hearing tested per recommendations.
Even if you think your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing exam 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 obvious.
Detecting hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an affect on your general health.