At what point should you think about having your hearing assessed? Here are a few indications that reveal you should get your hearing checked.
Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was intended to be humerous. But it also wasn’t. The television has been getting louder and louder. And I started to think about whether I should set up a hearing exam.
There aren’t many reasons not to set up a hearing exam. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to book an appointment.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.
Indications you should get a hearing exam
If you’ve noticed any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing assessment with a professional is probably a smart decision. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s significant hearing impairment.
- Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever strained to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, where the surrounding din makes it hard to catch every word? It’s possible that this could be an indication of a loss of hearing.
- People always seem to be talking unclearly: The problem might not always be volume but instead definition.
- You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be loud. If you regularly fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
- Persistent ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is often a sign of damage to your hearing.
Here are several other scenarios that indicate you should schedule a hearing evaluation:
- Your ear is still blocked following an infection
- You have a buildup of earwax you can’t remove on your own
- Medicines you’re taking may be damaging your hearing
- It is hard to identify the source of sounds
- You have vertigo
Regular checkups
But what if you haven’t recognized any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should get your hearing checked?
- Get a baseline test done sometime after you turn 21.
- For individuals with typical hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing exam every three years.
- If you demonstrate symptoms of hearing loss, get it checked out immediately and then every year after that.
Routine screenings might identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are noticeable. The sooner you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about setting up a hearing evaluation.