It’s difficult to comprehend but most individuals have gone over ten years without having a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her yearly medical examination. She even knows to get her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But her hearing exam typically gets neglected.
There are many reasons to get hearing tests, the most prominent of which is that it’s usually 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 knows how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So, just how frequently should you have a hearing assessment?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or perhaps it isn’t. Our reaction will differ depending on her age. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For individuals over 50: The general suggestion is that anybody over the age of fifty should schedule annual hearing assessments 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 affecting your life. Plus, there might be other health concerns that can impact your hearing.
- For individuals under 50: It’s generally recommended that you have a hearing exam once every three to ten years or so. There’s no harm in having your ears checked more often, of course! But once every ten years is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
Signs you need to get your hearing checked
Undoubtedly, there are other occasions, besides the yearly exam, that you might want to come in for a consultation. Symptoms of hearing loss might start to surface. And when they do you should make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
Here are some clues that you need a hearing test:
- Having a very difficult time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- You need people to talk louder or repeat what they said.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Sounds become muffled; it starts to sound as if you always have water in your ears.
- Having a tough time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are frequently the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs begin to add up. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
What are the advantages of hearing testing?
Harper may be late getting her hearing test for a number of reasons.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has concrete benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help identify any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. If you can catch your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better safeguard it.
Discovering hearing issues before they create permanent hearing loss is the precise reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. Consider the effects of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.