When should you get a hearing test? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four warning signs.
I guess my TV is regularly cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was funny. Because it was a joke. But, in some ways, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder as of late. And I started to wonder: should I get a hearing test?
There aren’t all that many reasons not to make an appointment for a hearing exam. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t need to worry about discomfort. You’ve probably just been putting it on the back-burner.
You should really be more vigilant about staying on top of your hearing because, if left untreated, it can affect your general health.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are important. Even mild hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s nearly impossible to recognize early hearing loss without a hearing examination.
So how can you recognize if you should make an appointment? Here are several ways to know if you need to come see us.
Signs you should get a hearing test
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart plan to get a professional hearing screening. Naturally, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- You have a hard time hearing when you’re in a noisy environment: Have you ever been to a crowded or loud room and had trouble following the conversation because of all the background noise? That may actually be an indication of hearing loss. As your hearing progresses from healthy to impaired, one of the first warning signs is the loss of the ability to isolate distinct sounds.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is designed to be loud. So if you’re continuously missing calls or text messages, it may be because you aren’t hearing them. And perhaps, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more common sounds.
- Ringing that won’t subside: A common sign of injured hearing is a ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. If you’re dealing with some ringing that won’t stop, it may or may not be a symptom of hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t clear itself up, you should absolutely come see us for a hearing assessment.
- It seems like people are mumbling when they speak: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition. One of the earlier signs of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. It might be time for a hearing assessment if you detect this happening more and more frequently.
This list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few more:
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You have vertigo
- You can’t easily detect where specific sounds are originating
- You have an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
This list is by no means exhaustive. For instance, if your TV’s volume is at max and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these signs is worth looking into.
Routine examinations
But how should you deal with it when you’re not certain if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how frequently you should schedule a hearing exam? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. Well, yes, there are recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you need to have a hearing assessment. That way, you’ll have a baseline of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a practical schedule if your hearing seems normal. But make sure you note these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these huge periods of time.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it checked right away, and then annually after that.
It will be easier to identify any hearing loss before any red flags become obvious with regular screenings. The earlier you find treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing into the future. Which means, you should probably turn your TV down and make an appointment for a hearing test.