Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most people have had a hearing test.
One of those people is Harper. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her yearly medical examination. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing exam typically gets ignored.
Hearing assessments are essential for a multitude of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more significant. Knowing how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So, just how often should you get a hearing exam?
If the last time Harper took a hearing exam was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or we may think it’s perfectly normal. Her age will greatly determine our reaction. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For people over 50: Once annually is the recommended routine for hearing exams in individuals over fifty. Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. Moreover, as we age we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing tests. Naturally, it’s fine to get a hearing assessment more frequently. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
Signs you should have your hearing tested
Naturally, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Symptoms of hearing loss may start to crop up. And when they do you need to make an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
Here are some indications that you need a hearing exam:
- You’re having a difficult time making out conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- Phone conversations are becoming more difficult to hear.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Your ears sound muffled like you had water in them.
- You need people to talk louder or repeat what they said.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to accumulate. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
How will a hearing test help?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in having her hearing checked.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But there are concrete benefits to getting your hearing tested per recommendations.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help identify any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. If you can catch your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better safeguard it.
Discovering hearing issues before they produce permanent hearing loss is the precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Detecting your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. Think about the impact of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.