When is it time to get a hearing exam? Here are four indicators that you should have your hearing assessed.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to wonder: should I have my hearing tested?
There aren’t really that many reasons not to make an appointment for a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. You’ve most likely just been putting it on the back-burner.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t worsened.
Hearing exams are essential for many reasons. It’s usually hard for you to identify the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing impairment can affect your health.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
You should have your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently observed any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a hard time hearing.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing impairment that are much less obvious:
- Ringing that won’t clear itself up: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is frequently a sign of hearing damage. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t go away, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But it’s certainly an indication that you should get a hearing assessment.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes, it’s clarity not volume you need to be concerned about. Trouble following along with conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. If you experience this happening more and more, you might want to schedule a hearing test.
- You always miss alerts for text messages: Your cellphone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you failed to hear, it’s probably because you couldn’t hear them. And if you’re unable to hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a loud environment: Have you ever been to a busy or loud room and had difficulty following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? If this seems familiar you could be developing hearing loss. Being able to identify sounds is one sign of healthy hearing; this ability tends to wane as hearing loss progresses.
This list is not thorough, here are a few more:
- You’re experiencing episodes of vertigo
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t go away
- You can’t easily determine where specific sounds are originating
- You frequently use certain medications that are known to have an impact on your hearing.
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
This checklist, obviously, isn’t extensive. For example, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these signs is worth looking into.
Routine examinations
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. So how frequently should you have your hearing screened? There’s a guideline for everything else, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, in fact, some suggestions.
- Get a primary assessment done sometime after you’re 21. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing appears normal. But be sure you note these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these huge periods of time.
- You’ll want to get assessed immediately if you detect any signs of hearing loss and after that once every year.
Regular screenings can help you discover hearing loss before any warning signs appear. You will have a better chance of preserving your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. So it’s time to give us a call and schedule a hearing assessment.