How to Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Test

At what point should you think about having your hearing evaluated? Here are some signs you need to have your hearing checked.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. My answer …” What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to think about whether I should set up a hearing test.

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 be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to schedule an appointment.

Thinking about how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.

You should have your hearing checked if you observe these signs

If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s difficult to hear, it most likely means there’s significant hearing impairment.

• Ambient noise can be overpowering: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a loud or crowded space, where the surrounding din makes it tough to catch every word? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. 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 typically an indication of hearing damage.

Here are a few other situations that indicate you should schedule a hearing screening:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• Excess earwax has accumulated and can not be eliminated by self-cleaning methods
• You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
• Distinguishing where sounds are coming from can be difficult
• You have vertigo

Routine hearing evaluations

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should have your hearing tested?

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

Regular screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are evident. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about aranging a hearing assessment.