Surprisingly, it’s been more than 10 years since most people have had a hearing test.
One of those people is Harper. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her yearly medical exam. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing test.
Hearing tests are essential for a wide variety of reasons, the most prominent of which is that it’s often challenging for you to discover the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Knowing how frequently she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t had a hearing test in 10 years. Or we might think it’s completely normal. How old she is will largely determine our reaction. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- For individuals over 50: The general recommendation is that anyone over the age of fifty should schedule yearly hearing evaluations. Hearing loss is more likely to have an affect on your life as you age because the noise damage that has accumulated over a lifetime will speed up that impairment. Plus, there could be other health concerns that can impact your hearing.
- If you are less than fifty years old: It’s generally recommended that you get a hearing test once every three to ten years or so. There’s no harm in having your ears checked more often, of course! But once every decade is the bare minimum. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in an industry with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. It’s fast, easy, and painless so why not come in?
Signs you should have your hearing assessed
Needless to say, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Maybe you begin to notice some symptoms of hearing loss. And when they do you need to schedule an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
A few of the signs that should prompt you to have a hearing exam include:
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Phone conversations are getting more difficult to hear.
- Sounds get muffled; it starts to sound as if you always have water inside of your ears.
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- You’re having a tough time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- 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 often the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
It’s a strong hint that it’s time to get a hearing exam when the above warning signs begin to accumulate. 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?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper may be late in getting her hearing test.
Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are concrete benefits to having your hearing tested per guidelines.
We can set up 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 someone like Harper will be able to identify problems before her hearing is permanently diminished. Your ears will remain healthy longer by getting these regular screenings. Think about the impact of hearing loss on your overall health, it’s that important.
