Believe it or not, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She reports to her doctor for her yearly medical test and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing exam.
There are lots of reasons to get hearing tests, the most notable of which is that it’s normally difficult for you to detect the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Knowing how frequently she should get a hearing test will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So, just how frequently should you get a hearing assessment?
If the last time Harper had a hearing test was over a decade ago, that’s alarming. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Her age will greatly determine our reaction. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- For individuals over 50: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing assessments in individuals over fifty. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start impacting your life. In addition, there may be other health issues that can impact your hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing exams. Of course, it’s fine to get a hearing assessment more often. But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should play it safe and get checked more often if you work in a job that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
Signs you should get your hearing tested
Naturally, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Maybe you start to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And when they do you need to make an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
Here are a few clues that you need a hearing exam:
- Sounds get muffled; it starts to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- Turning your tv or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- Having a really tough time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- You need people to talk louder or repeat what they said.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs begin to add up. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing checked.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s purposely avoiding thinking about it. But there are concrete benefits to getting your hearing examined per guidelines.
Even if you think your hearing is perfectly healthy, a hearing test will help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. If you can catch your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better safeguard it.
Detecting hearing issues before they create permanent hearing loss is the exact reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will remain healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your overall health.