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

At what point should you consider getting your hearing assessed? Here are some indications that reveal you should get your hearing evaluated.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the loud volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was intended to be humorous. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been increasing. 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 be concerned about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

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

Indications you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve detected any recent changes that may be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is likely a smart decision. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a rather strong indication of hearing loss.

• It’s difficult to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble keeping up with the conversation because of all the background noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of impaired hearing.
• People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but rather clarity.
• You often overlook text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. If you routinely fail to observe 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 an indication of damage to your hearing.

Here are a few other scenarios that indicate you should schedule a hearing screening:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t get rid of by yourself
• You take specific medications that can damage your hearing
• It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
• You have vertigo

Regular checkups

Even if you’re not experiencing any obvious symptoms, it’s still important to schedule regular hearing tests.

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• For individuals with normal hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing exam every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed immediately and then every year thereafter.

Routine screenings might identify hearing loss early, before any symptom are noticeable. Prompt professional attention can dramatically increase your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.