Believe it or not, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing assessment.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a cleaning and checkup with her dentist every six months and she reports dutifully for her yearly medical exam. She even gets her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But she never remembers to schedule her hearing test.
There are a number of reasons to get hearing tests, the most prominent of which is that it’s often difficult for you to detect the earliest indications of hearing loss without one. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she knows how often to get her hearing tested.
So, just how often should you get a hearing test?
If the last time Harper had a hearing test was over ten years ago, that’s disconcerting. Or perhaps it isn’t. Our reaction will differ depending on her age. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- If you are over fifty years old: The general recommendation is that anyone over fifty years old should make an appointment for yearly hearing tests As you age, 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. Moreover, as we get older we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an affect on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s generally recommended that you undergo a hearing exam about once every three to ten years. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing assessment more frequently. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. It’s fast, easy, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
You should get your hearing assessed if you notice any of these signs.
Needless to say, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Perhaps you start to experience some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you should make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
A few of the clues that should motivate you to get 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 takes hold.)
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat what they said.
- Having a very hard time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
When the previously mentioned warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good indication that the perfect time to get a hearing test is right now. 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?
Harper could be late having her hearing checked for several reasons.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
The reason for regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to identify problems before her hearing is permanently damaged. Your ears will stay healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your general health.
