Should I Get a Hearing Exam?

At what point should you consider having your hearing evaluated? Here are some indications you need to have your hearing checked.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was meant to be humerous. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to question whether I should schedule 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 worry about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to set up an appointment.

Given the significant effect that neglected hearing loss can have on your general well-being, it’s important to be proactive about keeping an eye on your hearing.

You should have your hearing checked if you detect these signs

If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, if things are hard to hear, that’s a fairly strong indication of hearing loss.

• It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That could be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: In some cases it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it could be because you’re noy hearing them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is typically a sign of hearing damage.

Other indications you should schedule a hearing test:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can’t be removed by self-cleaning methods
• Medications you’re using might be damaging your hearing
• It is difficult to pinpoint the source of sounds
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Routine hearing evaluations

Even if you’re not experiencing any noticeable symptoms, it’s still significant to schedule routine hearing exams.

• It is recommended to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• For people with typical hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing assessment every three years.
• If you demonstrate symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked immediately and then annually after that.

Routine assessments can help you identify hearing loss before any warnings appear. Early professional attention can dramatically improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and set up a hearing test.