When should you schedule a hearing assessment? Here are a few signs that suggest you should get your hearing tested.
Recently, my children expressed discontent with the high volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started to wonder: Should I get a hearing exam?
There aren’t many reasons not to arrange a hearing exam. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to book an appointment.
Thinking about how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more vigilant about it.
Signs you should get a hearing test
If you’ve recently experienced any signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
- Ambient noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to focus on a conversation in a loud or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it difficult to catch every word? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
- It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
- You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it could be because you’re noy hearing them.
- Persistent ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is typically an indication of damage to your hearing.
Other signs you should make an appointment for a hearing test:
- Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
- Excess earwax has accumulated and can’t be removed by self-cleaning approaches
- Medicines you’re taking may be harming your hearing
- Determining where sounds are originating from can be difficult
- You have vertigo
Routine hearing assessments
But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should get your hearing checked?
- Get a baseline test done sometime after you turn 21.
- If your hearing is healthy, get hearing screenings every three years.
- If you display signs of hearing loss, have it evaluated right away and then annually afterwards.
Regular assessments can help you identify hearing loss before any warnings appear. Early expert attention can dramatically increase your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider setting up a hearing evaluation.