How to Recognize When It’s Time for a Hearing Test

At what point should you consider getting your hearing assessed? Here are a few indications that suggest you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the loud volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started 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 feel uneasy about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Thinking about how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.

Indications you should get a hearing exam

If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• Background noise can be overpowering: Have you ever strained to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded setting, where the surrounding din makes it difficult to catch every word? That might be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to be concerned about, it’s a loss of clarity.
• You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it might 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 opened after an infection
• You have a buildup of earwax you can’t remove by yourself
• You take certain medications that can harm your hearing
• Distinguishing where sounds are coming from can be difficult
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Regular checkups

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

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

Regular assessments can help you detect hearing loss before any warnings appear. Early professional attention can dramatically increase your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and think about aranging a hearing evaluation.