Surprisingly, it’s been more than 10 years since most people have had a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical test. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But she never remembers to schedule her hearing test.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing tests, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most important. Determining how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing examined how often?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or we might think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will differ depending on how old she is. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- If you are over fifty years of age: The general recommendation is that anybody over the age of fifty should make an appointment for annual hearing assessments As you age, 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 get older we’re more likely to be dealing with other health problems that can have an impact on hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing tests. There’s no harm in having your ears tested more frequently, of course! But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been subjecting 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?
Signs you should have your hearing checked
Of course, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Symptoms of hearing loss might begin to appear. And in those situations, it’s important to get in touch with us and schedule a hearing test.
Here are a few indications that you need a hearing exam:
- Cranking your tv or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- 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 frequently the first to go as hearing loss takes hold.)
- Phone conversations are getting more difficult to hear.
- Sounds become muffled; it starts to sound as though you always have water in your ears.
- You’re having a tough time making out conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to accumulate. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
Harper may be late having her hearing test for a number of reasons.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you believe your hearing is totally healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
Discovering hearing issues before they cause permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Catching your hearing loss early by having your hearing tested when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. Consider the effects of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.