Should I Get a Hearing Exam?

At what point should you consider having your hearing assessed? Here are some indications that reveal you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the loud volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was meant to be humerous. But there’s nothing comical about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I started to question whether I should schedule a hearing test.

There aren’t many good reasons not to schedule 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 set up an appointment.

Given the considerable impact that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s essential to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

Signs you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve detected any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, booking a comprehensive hearing examination with a professional is likely a wise decision. If it’s difficult to hear, it likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• It’s hard to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had trouble following the conversation because of all the background noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of a loss of hearing.
• People always seem to be talking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but rather clarity.
• You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it might be because you’re noy hearing them.
• Persistent ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is often a sign of damage to your hearing.

Here are a few other scenarios that indicate you should arrange a hearing evaluation:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• You have a buildup of earwax you can’t get rid of on your own
• You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
• Identifying where sounds are coming from can be challenging
• You have vertigo

Routine hearing assessments

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how often you should have your hearing checked?

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you’re 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
• If you demonstrate signs of hearing loss, have it checked out immediately and then annually after that.

Regular screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. Early professional attention can significantly improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.