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

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

Recently, my children expressed discontent with the loud volume of the TV. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was intended to be funny. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I began to question whether I should set up a hearing test.

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to worry about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Considering how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.

Indications you should get a hearing test

If you’ve recently experienced any signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good plan to get a professional hearing assessment. Obviously, if things are hard to hear, that’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.

• Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded setting, where the surrounding racket makes it difficult to catch every word? That could be a sign of hearing loss.
• People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The issue might not always be volume but rather clarity.
• You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you routinely fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Persistent ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is frequently a sign of damage to your hearing.

Here are several other situations that suggest you should schedule a hearing evaluation:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• Excess earwax has accumulated and can’t be removed by self-cleaning methods
• Medications you’re taking might be damaging your hearing
• It is hard to pinpoint the source of sounds
• You have vertigo

Routine checkups

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how often you should get your hearing checked?

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you turn 21.
• For individuals with typical hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing test every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing loss, have it evaluated right away and then yearly thereafter.

Routine screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any symptom are obvious. Early professional attention can substantially increase your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing assessment.