It’s hard to comprehend but most individuals have gone over ten years without getting a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her yearly medical exam. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing exam normally gets neglected.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing exams, the most notable of which is that it’s usually difficult for you to discover the earliest symptoms of hearing loss without one. Determining how frequently she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So, just how often should you have a hearing test?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing test in 10 years. Or maybe it isn’t. Her age will largely determine our reaction. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For individuals over 50: The general recommendation is that anyone above the age of fifty should make an appointment for annual hearing tests Hearing loss is more likely to have an affect on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. Plus, there may be other health problems that can affect your hearing.
- For individuals under 50: It’s usually recommended that you get a hearing test once every three to ten years or so. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more frequently, of course! But the bare minimum is once every ten years. And you should play it safe and get checked more frequently if you work in a job that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, simple, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
Signs you need to have your hearing tested
Obviously, there are other occasions, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in for a consultation. Symptoms of hearing loss may begin to surface. And when they do you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test.
Here are some indications that you need a hearing exam:
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- Phone conversations are becoming more difficult to hear.
- Trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to accumulate. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
What are the advantages of hearing testing?
Harper could be late getting her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete benefits to getting your hearing examined per recommendations.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better protect it.
Discovering hearing problems before they create permanent hearing loss is the exact reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an impact on your general health.