When should you schedule a hearing exam? Here are a few indications you should get your hearing checked.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was intended to be humerous. But there’s nothing funny about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I began to wonder: Should I get a hearing test?
There aren’t many reasons not to arrange a hearing exam. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without worries about your level of comfort. You just need to take a brief moment to book an appointment.
Thinking about how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.
Indications you should get a hearing test
If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a fairly strong indication of hearing loss.
- Ambient noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever strained to focus on a conversation in a loud or crowded space, where the surrounding din makes it hard to catch every word? That could be an indication of hearing loss.
- People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The issue may not always be volume but instead clarity.
- You’re always missing text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it could be because you’re noy hearing them.
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is typically a sign of hearing damage.
Other indications you should make an appointment for a hearing test:
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
- Surplus earwax has accumulated and can not be eliminated by self-cleaning methods
- You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
- Distinguishing where sounds are coming from can be difficult
- You have vertigo
Regular checkups
But what if you haven’t recognized any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how frequently you should get your hearing tested?
- Get a baseline test done at some point after you turn 21.
- If your hearing is healthy, get hearing screenings every three years.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, have it checked out immediately and then every year after that.
Regular screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any symptom are noticeable. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing test.