Should I Get a Hearing Exam?

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

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my TV was. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was intended to be humorous. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I started to think about whether I should schedule a hearing assessment.

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re 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 minute to schedule an appointment.

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

You should get your hearing checked if you notice these signs

If you’ve noticed any recent changes that might be indicative of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing examination with a professional is probably a smart decision. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a rather solid indication of hearing loss.

• Background noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever struggled to focus on a conversation in a noisy or crowded space, where the surrounding racket makes it hard to hear every word? That could be an indication of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: In some cases it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of clarity.
• You often overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you frequently fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Persistent ringing sound: A constant sensation of ringing in your ears, referred to as tinnitus, is frequently an indication of damage to your hearing.

Here are several other scenarios that suggest you should schedule a hearing screening:

• Your ear is still clogged following an infection
• You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t get rid of on your own
• You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
• Identifying where sounds are coming from can be challenging
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Routine hearing assessments

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

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• For people with normal hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing assessment every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed immediately and then every year thereafter.

Routine screenings may detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are evident. Early expert attention can substantially improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider aranging a hearing evaluation.