Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most people have had a hearing assessment.
Harper is one of them. She reports to her doctor for her yearly medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing tests are essential for a multitude of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more significant. Determining how frequently she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
So, just how often should you get a hearing assessment?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing test in 10 years. Or maybe it isn’t. How old she is will greatly determine our reaction. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- For individuals over 50: Once a year is the recommended schedule for hearing tests in people over 50 years old. Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you get older because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. Moreover, as we age we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is suggested for hearing exams. Obviously, it’s fine to get a hearing test more often. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more frequently. After all, it’s painless, simple, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
You should have your hearing checked if you experience any of these signs.
Obviously, there are other times, besides the yearly exam, that you might want to come in for a consultation. Symptoms of hearing loss might start to appear. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
Some of the signs that should prompt you to get a hearing exam include:
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- Having a really hard time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs start to accumulate. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
How will a hearing test help?
Harper could be late getting her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s deliberately avoiding thinking about it. But there are tangible benefits to getting your hearing examined per guidelines.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s currently healthy. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better safeguard it.
Discovering hearing issues before they produce permanent hearing loss is the exact reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Detecting your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your overall health.