Surprisingly, it’s been over 10 years since most people have had a hearing test.
One of those individuals is Harper. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical examination. She even changes her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing exam.
Hearing evaluations are important for a variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most significant. Determining how often she should get their hearing tested will help Harper keep her ears (and hearing) healthy for as long as possible.
So you should get your hearing tested how often?
If the last time Harper had a hearing exam was over ten years ago, that’s alarming. Or maybe it isn’t. Our reaction will differ depending on how old she is. That’s because we have different suggestions based on age.
- If you are over fifty years old: Once a year is the suggested routine for hearing exams in individuals over 50 years old. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. In addition, there may be other health issues that can affect your hearing.
- For people under 50: Once every 3 to 10 years is recommended for hearing exams. Naturally, it’s ok to get a hearing exam more frequently. But the bare minimum is once every ten years. And you should play it safe and get checked more frequently if you work in an occupation that tends to be loud or if you go to a lot of concerts. It’s fast, easy, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
Indications you should get your hearing assessed
Obviously, there are other times, besides the annual exam, that you might want to come in and see us. Perhaps you start to experience some symptoms of hearing loss. And when they do you need to make an appointment with us for a hearing test.
A few of the signs that should motivate you to have a hearing test include:
- Rapid hearing loss in one ear.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies like consonants.
- Asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- Phone conversations are getting harder to hear.
- Sounds become muffled; it begins to sound as though you always have water inside of your ears.
- The volume on your stereo or television is getting louder and louder.
- You’re having a difficult time making out conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
It’s a solid hint that it’s time to get a hearing test when the above warning signs begin to add up. You’ll know what’s happening with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
There are plenty of reasons why Harper might be late in getting her hearing test.
Maybe she hasn’t thought about it.
Maybe she’s deliberately avoiding thinking about it. But getting the suggested hearing tests has tangible benefits.
Even if you think your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam will help establish a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You’ll be in a better position to protect your hearing if you detect any early hearing loss before it becomes obvious.
The point of regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to detect problems before her hearing is permanently diminished. Detecting your hearing loss early by getting your hearing checked 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.