At what point should you consider having your hearing evaluated? Here are a few signs that suggest you should get your hearing checked.
Recently, my children expressed discontent with the high volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to think about whether I should set up a hearing exam.
There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without concerns about your comfort level. You just need to take a brief minute to set up an appointment.
Given the substantial effect that neglected hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s essential to be proactive about keeping an eye on your hearing.
Indications you should get a hearing exam
If you’ve detected any recent changes that might be a sign of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing examination with a professional is likely a wise decision. Clearly, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a fairly solid indication of hearing loss.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this might be an indication of impaired hearing.
- People always seem to be talking unclearly: The problem might not always be volume but instead definition.
- You regularly miss text messages: Your phone is intended to be loud. If you routinely fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.
Other signs you should schedule a hearing test:
- Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
- Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be eliminated by self-cleaning methods
- You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
- Determining where sounds are coming from can be challenging
- You’re experiencing balance issues
Routine checkups
But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how frequently you should have your hearing tested?
- It is encouraged to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
- If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed immediately and then every year thereafter.
Routine screenings can help you identify hearing loss before any warnings appear. Early professional attention can substantially increase your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing test.