At what point should you consider having your hearing assessed? Here are some signs you should have your hearing assessed.
Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the loud volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing comical about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I began to wonder: Should I get a hearing test?
There aren’t many reasons not to schedule a hearing exam. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without concerns about your level of comfort. You just need to take a brief moment to set up an appointment.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.
Signs you should get a hearing test
If you’ve detected any recent changes that may be a sign of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing examination with a professional is probably a smart decision. If it’s hard to hear, it likely means there’s considerable hearing impairment.
- Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it hard to catch every word? It’s possible that this might be an indication of impaired hearing.
- It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
- You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly 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 known as tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.
Other signs you should make an appointment for a hearing test:
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
- You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t remove on your own
- Medicines you’re taking may be damaging your hearing
- Determining where sounds are originating from can be difficult
- You’re experiencing balance issues
Routine hearing assessments
But what if you haven’t noticed any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how often you should get your hearing checked?
- It is encouraged to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
- If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing screenings every three years.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, have it checked right away and then every year after that.
Routine screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are obvious. Prompt professional attention can considerably increase your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and set up a hearing test.