Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since most people have had a hearing exam.
One of those individuals is Harper. She reports to her doctor for her yearly medical exam and has her teeth cleaned every six months. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing test usually gets neglected.
There are many reasons to get hearing assessments, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more important. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
So you should get your hearing examined how often?
If the last time Harper took a hearing exam was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or we may think it’s perfectly normal. Our reaction will vary depending on how old she is. Depending on age, guidelines will differ.
- If you are over fifty years old: The general suggestion is that anyone over the age of fifty should make an appointment for annual hearing assessments As you age, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. In addition, there might be other health problems that can affect your hearing.
- For individuals under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing tests. Obviously, it’s ok to get a hearing test more frequently. But the bare minimum is once every decade. And you should play it safe and get tested more often if you work in a job that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
Signs you need to get your hearing checked
Of course, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s important to contact us and schedule a hearing test.
A few of the clues that should motivate you to have a hearing test include:
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- Having a very hard time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You’re having a hard time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud environments.
- You need people to speak louder or repeat themselves.
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs start to add up. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
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 suggested hearing tests has concrete benefits.
Even if you believe your hearing is totally healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to identify. If you can catch your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you can better protect it.
Discovering hearing problems before they create permanent hearing loss is the exact reason someone like Harper should get tested regularly. Recognizing your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. Consider the impact of hearing loss on your general health, it’s that important.