When should you schedule a hearing exam? Here are some indications that suggest you should get your hearing checked.
Recently, my children expressed discontent with the high volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I started to question whether I should schedule a hearing exam.
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 be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to book an appointment.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can influence your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.
Indications you should get a hearing exam
If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s difficult to hear, it likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty keeping up with the conversation because of all the background noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of a loss of hearing.
- It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: In some cases it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
- You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is intended to be attention-grabbing. If you frequently fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
- Relentless ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is typically a sign of damage to your hearing.
Other signs you should make an appointment for a hearing test:
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
- You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t clear on your own
- You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
- It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
- You’re experiencing balance issues
Routine hearing assessments
But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how frequently you should get your hearing checked?
- It is encouraged to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
- For individuals with typical hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing assessment every three years.
- If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it assessed right away and then every year afterwards.
Routine screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any symptom are evident. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about aranging a hearing test.