Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing test.
One of those people is Harper. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her yearly medical examination. She even knows to get her timing belt changed every 6000 miles! But she never remembers to schedule her hearing exam.
Hearing tests are important for a variety of reasons, the most notable of which is that it’s often difficult for you to detect the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Knowing 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 tested how often?
If the last time Harper had a hearing exam was over a decade ago, that’s alarming. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will differ depending on her age. Depending on age, guidelines will differ.
- For individuals over 50: The general recommendation is that anybody over the age of fifty should schedule yearly hearing evaluations. Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you age because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. Plus, there may be other health problems that can affect your hearing.
- For people under 50: It’s generally recommended that you get a hearing test once every three to ten years or so. There’s no harm in having your ears checked more frequently, of course! But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should be cautious and get checked more often if you work in a job that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, easy, and painless so why not come in?
Signs you need to get your hearing tested
Undoubtedly, there are other occasions, besides the annual exam, that you may want to come in and see us. Signs of hearing loss might begin to surface. And in those instances, it’s important to reach out to us and schedule a hearing assessment.
Some of the signs that should motivate you to get a hearing test include:
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Having a difficult 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.)
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- Having a really difficult time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to add up. 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?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing checked.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s purposely avoiding thinking about it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has tangible benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help identify any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better safeguard it.
Discovering hearing problems before they produce permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an affect on your general health.