It’s difficult to comprehend but most people have gone over ten years without having a hearing exam.
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 test. She even knows to get her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But she never remembers to schedule her hearing exam.
There are a number of reasons to get hearing tests, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most essential. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she knows how frequently to get her hearing tested.
So, just how frequently should you have a hearing exam?
If the last time Harper took a hearing assessment was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or we may think it’s perfectly normal. How old she is will greatly determine our reaction. Depending on age, recommendations will vary.
- If you are over fifty years old: Once annually is the suggested schedule for hearing tests in individuals over fifty. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Moreover, as we age we’re more likely to be dealing with other health issues that can have an impact on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing exams. Naturally, it’s fine to get a hearing assessment more often. But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should play it safe and get tested more often if you work in an occupation that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no good reason not to do it.
You should have your hearing assessed if you notice any of these signs.
Needless to say, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Signs of hearing loss might begin to appear. And in those instances, it’s important to get in touch with us and schedule a hearing assessment.
Some of the signs that should prompt you to get a hearing exam include:
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- Phone conversations are becoming harder to hear.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat themselves during a conversation.
When the above warning signs start to add up, it’s a good indication that the perfect time to get a hearing exam is right now. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
There are lots of reasons why Harper may be late in having her hearing test.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s purposely avoiding thinking about it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has tangible benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better protect it.
Detecting hearing problems before they cause permanent hearing loss is the exact reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Catching your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your general health.