It’s difficult to believe but most people have gone over ten years without having a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her annual medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing exam typically gets neglected.
There are many reasons to get hearing exams, the most notable of which is that it’s normally challenging for you to detect the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will stay as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So you should have your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing test was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or maybe it isn’t. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. Depending on age, guidelines will vary.
- For people over 50: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing assessments in people over fifty. As you get older, 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 issues that can have an affect on hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: It’s usually recommended that you undergo a hearing exam about once every three to ten years. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing test more frequently. But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should be cautious and get tested more frequently if you work in an occupation that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, simple, and there’s really no good reason not to do it.
You need to have your hearing assessed if you experience any of these signs.
Naturally, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to experience some symptoms of hearing loss. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
Some of the signs that should motivate you to have a hearing exam include:
- 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 often the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
- Your ears seem muffled as if you had water in them.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Having a really difficult time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Trouble hearing conversations in loud environments.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to accumulate. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
Harper may be late having her hearing test for several reasons.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s purposely avoiding thinking about it. But there are concrete advantages to getting your hearing tested per recommendations.
Even if you believe your hearing is totally healthy, a hearing exam will help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better safeguard it.
Detecting hearing problems before they produce permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Detecting your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your general health.