Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She reports to her doctor for her annual medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she never remembers to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing evaluations are essential for a wide variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more essential. Harper’s ears and hearing will stay as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So, just how often should you have a hearing exam?
If the last time Harper took a hearing test was over a decade ago, that’s disconcerting. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- For people over 50: The general suggestion is that anybody over the age of fifty should make an appointment for yearly hearing tests As you age, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start impacting your life. In addition, there could be other health problems that can impact your hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s generally recommended that you take a hearing test once every three to ten years or so. Obviously, it’s fine to get a hearing exam more often. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. And you should play it safe and get tested more frequently if you work in a job that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, easy, and painless so why not come in?
Indications you need to have your hearing assessed
Of course, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Perhaps you start to experience some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test.
Here are some clues that you need a hearing test:
- Your ears seem muffled as if you had water in them.
- You’re having a tough time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You’re having a hard time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Turning your tv or car stereo up to extremely high volumes.
- Having a really hard time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat what they said during a conversation.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to add up. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for an evaluation.
How will a hearing test help?
Harper could be late having her hearing test for a number of reasons.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding thinking about it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you believe your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam will help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
Discovering hearing problems before they create permanent hearing loss is the precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will stay healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. If you let your hearing go, it can have an affect on your general health.
