How to Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Exam

At what point should you consider getting your hearing evaluated? Here are a few signs that reveal you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “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 test.

There aren’t many reasons not to arrange a hearing exam. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to set up an appointment.

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

Signs you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve noticed any recent changes that may be indicative of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is probably a wise decision. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.

• Ambient noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to focus on a conversation in a loud or crowded setting, where the surrounding din makes it hard to hear every word? That could be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You often miss text messages: Your phone is intended 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.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is typically an indication of hearing damage.

Here are some other scenarios that suggest you should arrange a hearing evaluation:

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t remove on your own
• Medicines you’re taking might be damaging your hearing
• Determining where sounds are coming from can be difficult
• You have vertigo

Regular checkups

Even if you’re not experiencing any noticeable symptoms, it’s still significant to schedule regular hearing tests.

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you’re 21.
• For individuals with normal hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing assessment every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it assessed immediately and then yearly afterwards.

Regular screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are evident. The sooner you seek treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing test.