It’s hard to comprehend but most individuals have gone over ten years without getting a hearing exam.
One of those people is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her annual medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she never remembers to schedule her hearing exam.
Hearing evaluations are essential for a multitude of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more essential. Knowing how often she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So you should have your hearing examined how often?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing exam in 10 years. Or we may think it’s perfectly normal. Our reaction will vary depending on how old she is. Depending on age, recommendations will vary.
- For people over 50: The general suggestion is that anybody above fifty years old should schedule annual hearing tests 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 impacting your life. Also, as we get older we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an affect on hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing tests. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more often, of course! But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
Indications you should get your hearing assessed
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 experience some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s important to contact us and schedule a hearing exam.
Some of the clues that should prompt you to get 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.)
- Sounds become muffled; it begins to sound as if you always have water in your ears.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You’re having a hard time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Having a very hard time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs start to add up. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
Harper may be late having her hearing test for a number of reasons.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are tangible advantages to getting your hearing tested per guidelines.
Even if you believe your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better protect it.
The reason for regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to detect problems before her hearing is permanently damaged. Recognizing your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. Consider the impact of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.
