It’s difficult to believe but most people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing exam.
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 examination. She even gets her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But she always forgets to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing assessments are essential for a wide variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most significant. Determining how frequently she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
It’s disconcerting to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or maybe it isn’t. How old she is will greatly determine our reaction. Depending on age, recommendations will vary.
- For individuals over 50: Once annually is the recommended routine for hearing exams in people over fifty. As you age, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start impacting your life. Also, as we age we’re more likely to be dealing with other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing exams. Of course, it’s fine to get a hearing test more often. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. And you should play it safe and get checked more often if you work in an occupation that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why not come in?
Indications you should have your hearing assessed
Undoubtedly, there are other occasions, besides the yearly exam, that you may want to come in and see us. Signs of hearing loss might begin to surface. And when they do you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
A few of the signs that should motivate you to have a hearing test include:
- You’re having a difficult time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- Cranking your television or car stereo up to excessively high volumes.
- You need people to talk louder or repeat themselves.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- Phone conversations are becoming harder to hear.
- Sounds get muffled; it starts to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- 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 sets in.)
When the above warning signs start to add up, it’s a good sign that the perfect time to get a hearing test is right now. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
How will a hearing test help?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in having her hearing checked.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with 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 currently healthy. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
The point of regular hearing tests is that someone like Harper will be able to identify problems before her hearing is permanently damaged. Detecting your hearing loss early by having your hearing tested when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an affect on your overall health.