Should I Get a Hearing Test?

When should you get a hearing assessment? Here are several indications you need to have your hearing checked.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I began to ponder: Should I get a hearing exam?

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to worry about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to schedule an appointment.

Given the significant effect that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s important to be proactive about keeping an eye on your hearing.

You should get your hearing tested if you notice these signs

If you’ve noticed any recent changes that may be indicative of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is probably a wise decision. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a rather strong indication of hearing loss.

• It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had difficulty keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of a loss of hearing.
• People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but instead clarity.
• You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is intended to be attention-grabbing. If you frequently fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.

Here are a few other situations that suggest you should arrange a hearing evaluation:

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• Surplus earwax has accumulated and can not be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• Medications you’re taking may be damaging your hearing
• Identifying where sounds are coming from can be challenging
• You have vertigo

Routine checkups

Even if you’re not observing any obvious symptoms, it’s still important to schedule routine hearing tests.

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• For people with typical hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing exam every three years.
• If you show symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked out immediately and then yearly after that.

Regular screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are evident. Prompt professional attention can considerably increase your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about setting up a hearing test.