Should I Get a Hearing Exam?

When should you get a hearing test? Here are several signs you should get your hearing assessed.

Recently, my children expressed discontent with the high volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was meant to be humorous. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I started to wonder: Should I get a hearing exam?

There aren’t many reasons not to arrange a hearing exam. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without concerns about your level of comfort. Simply take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Given the significant effect that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your general well-being, it’s crucial to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

Indications you should get a hearing test

If you’ve detected any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing assessment with a professional is likely a wise decision. Clearly, if things are hard to hear, that’s a rather solid indication of hearing loss.

• Background noise can be overpowering: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, where the surrounding din makes it tough to hear every word? That may be an indication of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: In some cases it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of clarity.
• You regularly miss text messages: Your phone is meant to be loud. If you routinely fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is typically a sign of damage to your hearing.

Here are some other situations that indicate you should schedule a hearing screening:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• Medicines you’re taking may be damaging your hearing
• Identifying where sounds are originating from can be difficult
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Routine hearing assessments

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should have your hearing checked?

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing screenings every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it checked immediately and then yearly afterwards.

Routine assessments can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. Prompt expert attention can substantially increase your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing evaluation.