It’s hard to believe but most people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She goes to see her doctor for her yearly medical exam and gets her teeth cleaned every six months. She even knows to get her timing belt replaced every 6000 miles! But her hearing test typically gets ignored.
There are many reasons to get hearing exams, early detection of hearing loss being one of the more important. Harper’s ears and hearing will stay as healthy as possible if she determines how frequently to get her hearing checked.
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 perhaps it isn’t. How old she is will greatly determine our reaction. That’s because we have different recommendations based on age.
- For individuals over 50: The general recommendation is that anyone over fifty years old should make an appointment for yearly hearing exams Hearing loss is more likely to have an impact on your life as you age because the noise damage that has built-up over a lifetime will accelerate that impairment. In addition, there might be other health concerns that can impact your hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s generally recommended that you get a hearing test about once every three to ten years. Obviously, it’s fine to get a hearing test more often. But once every ten years is the bare minimum. And you should be cautious and get checked more frequently if you work in a job that tends to be noisy or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s quick, simple, and painless so why not come in?
Indications you should have your hearing checked
Of course, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Signs of hearing loss might start to crop up. And in those situations, it’s important to get in touch with us and schedule a hearing test.
Here are a few indications that you need a hearing exam:
- You’re having a hard time hearing conversations when you’re in a noisy setting.
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
- Asking people to talk slower or repeat what they said during a conversation.
- Having a very difficult time hearing people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- Having a difficult time hearing consonants (in general, consonants are spoken in a higher wavelength than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are frequently the first to go as hearing loss sets in.)
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
When the above warning signs begin to add up, it’s a good indication that the perfect 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?
There are lots of reasons why Harper might be late in having her hearing test.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
It’s possible that she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But getting the recommended hearing tests has tangible benefits.
We can set up a baseline for your hearing, which will help determine any future deviations, even if it’s presently healthy. If you can detect your hearing loss before it becomes obvious, you can better protect it.
Detecting hearing issues before they produce permanent hearing loss is the precise reason somebody like Harper should get tested regularly. Your ears will stay healthy longer by having these regular screenings. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an impact on your general health.
