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 frequently cranked up to the point where my kids recently complained. And guess what I said. I said, “What”? It was humorous. Because it was a joke. But, in reality, it was anything but funny. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder as of late. And that got me thinking that perhaps it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to avoid getting a hearing assessment. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. It’s really just that you haven’t made time for it.
Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, you really should be more vigilant about making sure your hearing impairment hasn’t worsened.
There are a lot of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. It’s usually difficult for you to identify the earliest signs of hearing loss without one, and even mild hearing loss can impact your health.
So how will you know if you should schedule an appointment? Here are some clues that it’s time.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
It’s time to get a professional hearing test if you’ve been noticing symptoms of hearing loss recently. Naturally, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But that’s not the only symptom, and there are some signs of hearing loss that are much less apparent:
- You have a difficult time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever had a hard time following along with conversations because of background noise in a crowded room? That could actually be a sign of hearing loss. As your hearing progresses from healthy to impaired, one of the first warning signs is the loss of the ability to identify distinct sounds.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to be able to hear. So if you’re continuously missing calls or text messages, it may be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you’re unable to hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
- Ringing that won’t subside: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is frequently a symptom of hearing damage. Ringing in the ear might or might not point to hearing loss. But if the ringing won’t stop, you should definitely call us for a hearing assessment.
- It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling: Sometimes, it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of definition. One of the first indications of hearing loss is trouble following conversations. It may be time for a hearing screening if you observe this happening more and more often.
This list isn’t thorough, here are a few more:
- It’s difficult to pinpoint the source of sounds
- You frequently use specific medications that are recognized to have an impact on your hearing.
- Your ear is still plugged after an ear infection
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- You have vertigo
This checklist is in no way exhaustive. There are other instances of red flags (if, for instance, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little louder). It would be a good idea to follow up on any of these symptoms.
Regular examinations
But what if, to your knowledge, you haven’t encountered any of these possible signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should go get your hearing checked? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some suggestions.
- Get a primary exam done sometime after you’re 21. That way, you’ll have a standard of your mature hearing.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing appears normal. That can be a huge chunk of time to pay attention to, so make sure they’re marked in your medical records somewhere.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it assessed immediately, and then yearly after that.
Regular examinations can help you identify hearing loss before any red flags develop. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to protect your hearing into the future. So it’s time to give us a call and schedule a hearing assessment.