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

When should you schedule a hearing evaluation? Here are some signs that suggest you should have your hearing checked.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. Do you 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 volume of the TV has been increasing. And I began to question whether I should schedule a hearing assessment.

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Given the considerable impact that neglected hearing loss can have on your general well-being, it’s critical to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

You should get your hearing assessed if you detect these signs

If you’ve recently experienced any signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s difficult to hear, it likely means there’s considerable hearing impairment.

• Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever strained to focus on a conversation in a loud or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it hard to catch every word? It’s possible that this could be an indication of a loss of 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 clarity.
• You’re always missing text messages: Your phone is designed to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it could be because you aren’t hearing them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.

Here are some other situations that indicate you should arrange a hearing assessment:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be removed by self-cleaning approaches
• Medications you’re using might be damaging your hearing
• Determining where sounds are originating from can be challenging
• You have vertigo

Routine checkups

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should have your hearing tested?

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you’re 21.
• For people with typical hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing test every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing impairment, have it assessed right away and then yearly thereafter.

Routine screenings might detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are noticeable. Prompt expert attention can substantially improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.