When is it time to have your hearing checked? You need a hearing exam if you have any of these four warning signs.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what my response was? I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was amusing. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
It really doesn’t make much sense to neglect getting a hearing assessment. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, you don’t have to worry about discomfort. You’ve probably just been putting it off.
You should really be more vigilant about keeping track of your hearing because, if left unchecked, it can affect your general health.
Hearing evaluations are essential for a wide variety of reasons. Even mild hearing loss can have an affect on your health and it’s nearly impossible to identify early hearing loss without a hearing examination.
So how will you know if you should make an appointment? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to come see us.
You should get your hearing tested if you experience these signs
If you’ve recently experienced any of the symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a smart idea to get a professional hearing exam. Clearly, it’s a powerful indication of hearing loss if you’re having a difficult time hearing.
But some of the other signs of hearing loss are more subtle:
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, which goes by the name of tinnitus, is frequently a sign of hearing damage. If you’re experiencing some ringing that won’t go away, it may or may not be a sign of hearing loss. But it’s definitely a sign that you should get a hearing exam.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a busy or noisy space and had difficulty following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That could actually be an indication of hearing loss. As your hearing progresses from healthy to impaired, one of the first signs is the loss of the ability to isolate specific sounds.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes, it’s clarity not volume you have to worry about. Difficulty making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going wrong with your hearing. It may be time for a hearing test if you detect this occurring more and more frequently.
- You don’t always hear alerts for text messages: Your phone (or mobile device, as they’re called these days) is made to be loud. So if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it might be because you aren’t hearing them. And if you can’t hear your mobile device, what else are you missing?
Here are several other situations that indicate you should make an appointment for a hearing screening:
- You have an accumulation of ear wax you’re body can’t clear on your own
- You can’t easily determine where specific sounds are originating
- You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
- you’re experiencing an ear infection and it won’t clear up
- You experience vertigo
This list, obviously, is not extensive. There are other instances of warning signs (if, for example, the volume on your TV is maxed out and you still wish it could go just a little bit louder). It would be a smart idea to look into any of these signs.
Routine checkups
But how should you deal with it when you’re not sure if you have any signs of hearing loss. Is there a guideline for how frequently you should schedule a hearing exam? With all of the other guidelines for everything else, this one seems like a no-brainer. There are, in fact, some recommendations.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should get a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a standard.
- Every three years or so will be a good schedule if your hearing appears healthy. But be sure you mark these appointments in your calendar or medical records because it’s easy to forget over these large periods of time.
- If you notice signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it tested immediately, and then yearly after that.
Regular examinations can help you discover hearing loss before any warning signs develop. You will have a better chance of preserving your hearing over time the sooner you get checked. So it’s time to pick up the phone and make an appointment for a hearing examination.