How to Know When It’s Time for a Hearing Exam

When should you schedule a hearing exam? Here are some indications you need to get your hearing checked.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was meant to be humerous. But there’s nothing funny about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I started to question whether I should set up a hearing test.

There aren’t many good reasons not to set up a hearing exam. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to book an appointment.

Given the significant effect that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s important to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

Signs you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good idea to get a professional hearing assessment. Clearly, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a fairly solid 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 following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is intended to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Persistent ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is often a sign of damage to your hearing.

Other indications you should schedule a hearing test:

• Your ear is still clogged following an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be eliminated by self-cleaning methods
• Medicines you’re using may be damaging your hearing
• It is difficult to pinpoint the source of sounds
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Routine hearing assessments

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

• Get a baseline test done sometime after you’re 21.
• If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing screenings every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing impairment, have it evaluated right away and then annually afterwards.

Routine screenings can help you detect hearing loss before any warnings appear. The sooner you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.