Believe it or not, it’s been more than 10 years since most individuals have had a hearing exam.
One of those individuals is Harper. She goes to see her doctor for her yearly medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But her hearing exam normally gets ignored.
Hearing assessments are essential for a variety of reasons, the most notable of which is that it’s usually challenging for you to detect the earliest indications of hearing loss without one. 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 get a hearing exam?
If the last time Harper got a hearing assessment was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or maybe it isn’t. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- If you are over fifty years old: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing tests in people over 50 years old. 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 impacting your life. Moreover, as we age we’re more likely to have other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- For people under 50: It’s generally recommended that you have a hearing test once every three to ten years or so. There’s no harm in having your ears tested more often, of course! But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been subjecting yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high decibel levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
You need to get your hearing checked if you experience any of these signs.
Of course, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to schedule an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam.
A few of the clues that should prompt you to have a hearing exam include:
- You’re having a hard time making out conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Having a tough time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are frequently the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- Phone conversations are getting more difficult to hear.
- Your ears seem muffled like you had water in them.
When the previously mentioned warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good indication that the ideal time to get a hearing test is right now. The sooner you get your hearing checked, the sooner you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
What are the advantages of hearing testing?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing checked.
It might have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has concrete benefits.
We can establish a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you recognize any early hearing loss before it becomes noticeable.
The point of regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to detect issues before her hearing is permanently diminished. 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.
