Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her annual medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she never remembers to schedule her hearing exam.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing exams, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more significant. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So, just how frequently should you get a hearing test?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing test in 10 years. Or we may think it’s perfectly 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 old: The general suggestion is that anyone over the age of fifty should schedule annual hearing assessments 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. Moreover, as we age we’re more likely to have other health issues 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 assessments. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more often, of course! But the bare minimum is once every decade. 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 fast, simple, and painless so why not come in?
You need to have your hearing tested if you experience any of these signs.
Obviously, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in and see us. Maybe you start to experience some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those cases, it’s important to contact us and schedule a hearing assessment.
A few of the clues that should prompt you to have a hearing test include:
- You need people to talk louder or repeat what they said.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Having a really hard time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Sounds get muffled; it begins to sound as if you always have water inside of your ears.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- Turning your tv or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
When the above warning signs start to add up, it’s a good sign that the perfect time to get a hearing exam is right now. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
Harper may be late getting her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
Perhaps 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 set up 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 protect your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
Discovering hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the exact reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will stay healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. Think about the impact of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.