It’s hard to comprehend but most people have gone over ten years without having a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her yearly medical test and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But she always forgets to schedule her hearing exam.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing assessments, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most essential. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she knows how frequently to get her hearing tested.
So you should have your hearing examined how often?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing test in 10 years. Or we may think it’s perfectly normal. Our reaction will vary depending on how old she is. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- For people over 50: Once annually is the recommended routine for hearing tests in people over 50 years old. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Plus, there might be other health issues that can affect your hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s usually recommended that you have a hearing exam about once every three to ten years. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more frequently, of course! But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s fast, easy, and painless so why not come in?
Indications you should have your hearing checked
Undoubtedly, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you might want to come in for a consultation. Symptoms of hearing loss might start to appear. And when they do you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test.
Some of the clues that should prompt you to have a hearing exam include:
- Phone conversations are getting more difficult to hear.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Cranking your tv or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- Your ears seem muffled as if you had water in them.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to add up. 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?
There are lots of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing checked.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s purposely avoiding thinking about it. But there are tangible benefits to having your hearing examined per guidelines.
Even if you believe your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing exam will help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. 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 precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will stay healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an affect on your general health.