It’s difficult to believe but most people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her yearly medical test and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But her hearing test usually gets ignored.
There are a number of reasons to get hearing exams, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most important. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she knows how frequently to get her hearing tested.
So, just how often should you have a hearing exam?
It’s alarming to think that Harper hasn’t taken a hearing exam in 10 years. Or maybe it isn’t. Our reaction will vary depending on her age. Depending on age, recommendations will differ.
- For people over 50: The general suggestion is that anybody over fifty years old should make an appointment for yearly hearing exams As you get older, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start impacting your life. Moreover, as we get older we’re more likely to have other health problems that can have an impact on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s usually recommended that you get a hearing test about once every three to ten years. There’s no harm in getting your ears checked more frequently, of course! But the bare minimum is once every ten years. If you’ve been exposing yourself to loud concert noise or work in a field with high volume levels, you should err on the side of caution and get tested more often. After all, it’s painless, easy, and there’s really no practical reason not to do it.
Indications you should get your hearing assessed
Of course, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Symptoms of hearing loss may begin to surface. And when they do you need to make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment.
Here are some clues that you need a hearing test:
- Sounds get muffled; it starts to sound as if you always have water in your ears.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- You suddenly can’t hear out of one ear.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Having a very difficult time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Having a tough time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are often the first to go as hearing loss takes hold.)
- You’re having a tough time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
When the above warning signs start to add up, it’s a good sign that the ideal time to get a hearing exam is right now. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the sooner you’ll know what’s going on with your ears.
How will a hearing test be beneficial?
Harper may be late having her hearing checked for a number of reasons.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has tangible benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is totally healthy, a hearing test will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to safeguard your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
The point of regular hearing tests is that someone like Harper will be able to identify issues before her hearing is permanently damaged. Recognizing your hearing loss early by getting your hearing tested when you should will help you keep your hearing healthier, longer. If you let your hearing go, it can have an impact on your overall health.
