According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. Sofia is one of them. She knows she has to have her oil changed every 3000 miles, she has a checkup with the dentist every six months, and she checks in punctually for her yearly medical exam. But she has no idea the last time she had a hearing exam or went through any kind of accurate hearing evaluation.
There are a number of reasons why it’s essential to get hearing exams, finding early symptoms of hearing loss is likely the most significant one. Sophia will be able to keep her hearing healthy for a much longer period of time by knowing how often to have her hearing checked.
How Frequently Do You Need to Get a Hearing Test?
We might be alarmed if Sophia hadn’t had a hearing examination in a decade. Or perhaps it doesn’t phase us. Our reaction, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, probably will vary depending on her age. That’s because hearing professionals have different suggestions based on age.
- If you’re over fifty years old: But if you’re over fifty, the recommendation is, you have a hearing test every year. As you age, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means loss of hearing is more likely to start impacting your life. There are also several other variables that can affect your hearing.
- It’s generally suggested that you undergo a hearing test around every three years. Obviously, if you think you should get your ears tested more frequently, there is no harm. The very least is every three years. You should definitely get evaluated more frequently if you spend a lot of time in a loud environment. There’s no reason not to do it, it’s painless and simple.
When it comes to your hearing, more often is certainly better. The sooner you identify any problems, the more quickly you’ll be able to address whatever hearing loss that might have developed since your last hearing test.
Signs You Should Get Your Hearing Checked
There are undoubtedly other times besides your annual hearing exam that you may want to make an appointment with your hearing specialist. Occasionally, you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s typically a good plan to promptly contact a hearing professional and schedule a hearing test.
Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:
- Having a difficult time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher pitch than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are often the first to go as hearing loss sets in)
- Continually asking people to repeat themselves or slow down during a conversation.
- Phone interactions are always difficult to hear.
- Sounds seem muffled; it’s starting to sound as if you constantly have water in your ears.
- When you’re in a noisy situation, you have problems hearing conversations.
- Cranking your television or car stereo to excessively high volumes (if your neighbors begin to complain, that’s a good indication you should see a hearing specialist soon).
When these warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good indication that the ideal time to have a hearing exam is right now. The sooner you have your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your hearing.
Hearing Tests, What Are The Advantages?
Sophia may be late for her hearing exam for many reasons. Perhaps she hasn’t thought about it. Potentially she’s just avoiding thinking about it. But getting your hearing examined on the recommended schedule has tangible benefits.
And it will be simpler to identify hearing deviations in the future if you get your hearing checked by establishing a baseline reading even if it seems as if everything is normal. You can safeguard your hearing better if you detect it before it becomes problematic.
That’s the reason why Sophia has to go to her regular hearing appointments before any permanent damage happens. Early detection by a hearing exam can help your hearing be healthy for a long time. Understanding the effects of hearing loss on your total health, that’s important.