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

When should you get a hearing assessment? Here are a few signs that reveal you should get your hearing tested.

Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. My answer …” What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to question whether I should schedule a hearing exam.

There aren’t many reasons not to set up a hearing exam. They are 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 moment to set up an appointment.

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

You should have your hearing checked if you notice these signs

If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s hard to hear, it most likely means there’s significant hearing impairment.

• Ambient noise can be overwhelming: Have you ever strained to hear a conversation in a loud or crowded space, where the surrounding din makes it tough to hear every word? It’s possible that this might be an indication of a loss of hearing.
• People always seem to be talking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but rather clarity.
• You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is meant to be loud. If you frequently fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.

Here are a few other situations that suggest you should schedule a hearing assessment:

• Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
• Surplus earwax has amassed and can not be eliminated by self-cleaning methods
• Medicines you’re taking might be damaging your hearing
• It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
• You have vertigo

Routine hearing evaluations

Even if you aren’t experiencing any obvious symptoms, it’s still significant to schedule routine hearing exams.

• Get a baseline test done sometime after you turn 21.
• For people with typical hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing test every three years.
• If you show symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked right away and then every year after that.

Routine assessments can help you detect hearing loss before any red flags appear. Prompt expert attention can dramatically improve your chances of maintaining healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and set up a hearing test.