Believe it or not, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She reports to her doctor for her yearly medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But her hearing exam typically gets neglected.
Hearing evaluations are important for a variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more essential. Harper’s ears and hearing will stay as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So you should get your hearing examined how often?
If the last time Harper got a hearing assessment was over a decade ago, that’s disconcerting. Or perhaps it isn’t. Our reaction will vary depending on how old she is. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For individuals over 50: The general suggestion is that anybody over fifty years old should schedule yearly hearing evaluations. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Also, 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 recommended for hearing assessments. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more often, of course! But once every ten years is the bare minimum. And you should play it safe and get tested more frequently if you work in a job that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
You should have your hearing checked if you experience any of these signs.
Undoubtedly, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in for a consultation. Perhaps you begin to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those situations, it’s important to reach out to us and schedule a hearing test.
Here are a few indications that you need a hearing test:
- Turning your television or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Having a really tough time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Your ears sound muffled like you had water in them.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat what they said.
- You’re having a tough time making out conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing test 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 plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing test.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has concrete benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. 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 someone like Harper will be able to identify problems before her hearing is permanently damaged. Catching your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. Consider the impact of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.