According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. One of those people is Sofia. She knows she has to have her oil changed every 3000 miles, she has a checkup with the dentist every six months, and she checks in punctually for her annual medical examination. But she can’t remember the last time she took a hearing test or went through any type of accurate hearing assessment.
There are lots of reasons why it’s essential to have hearing exams, detecting early symptoms of hearing loss is probably the most significant one. Sophia will be able to keep her hearing healthy for a much longer period of time by knowing how often to get her ears tested.
How Often Do You Need to Get a Hearing Test?
If the last time Sofia had a hearing exam was ten years ago, we may be concerned. Or we might think it’s completely normal. Our response, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, likely will vary depending on how old she is. That’s because hearing specialists have different recommendations based on age.
- At least every three years, it’s suggested that you have a hearing test. Of course, if you think you should get your ears examined more frequently, that’s also fine. The very least is every three years. If you are exposed to loud noise frequently or work at a job where noise is typical, you should err on the side of getting screened more frequently. It’s simple and painless and there’s really no reason not to get it done.
- If you are over fifty years old: The universal suggestion is that anyone over the age of fifty should undergo hearing checks yearly. Hearing loss is more liable to affect your life as you grow older because noise damage starts to add up. There are also numerous other factors that can impact your hearing.
As far as your hearing is concerned, more often is certainly better. The sooner you recognize any problems, the more quickly you’ll be able to address whatever loss of hearing that might have developed since your last hearing exam.
You Should Get Your Hearing Checked if You Notice These Signs
There are definitely other times besides your annual hearing test that you may want to make an appointment with your hearing specialist. As an example, if you recognize signs of hearing loss. And in those situations, it’s often a good plan to immediately get in touch with a hearing professional and schedule a hearing exam.
Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:
- It’s normal for hearing loss in the high pitched register to fail first and since consonants are in a higher pitched register than vowels, they normally fail first.
- Regularly asking people to repeat themselves or slow down during a conversation.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in noisy surroundings.
- Having a very difficult time understanding people when talking on the phone, any phone.
- Turning your television or car stereo to excessively high volumes (if your neighbors start complaining, that’s a good indication you need to see a hearing specialist soon).
- Your hearing is muted like there is water in your ears.
When these warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good sign that the ideal time to get a hearing test is right now. The more frequently you have your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your hearing.
What Are The Advantages of Hearing Testing?
Sophia might be late for her hearing exam for many reasons. Denial is a top choice. Possibly she’s just avoiding dealing with it. But there are actual benefits to having your hearing tested per recommendations.
And it will be simpler to detect hearing deviations in the future if you have your hearing checked by forming a baseline reading even if it seems as if everything is normal. If you detect your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you’ll be able to safeguard it better.
The point of regular hearing assessment is that somebody like Sofia will be able to detect issues before her hearing is permanently diminished. By detecting your hearing loss early, by getting your hearing checked when you should, you’ll be giving your ears their best chance of staying healthy. Understanding the effects of hearing loss on your general health, that’s essential.