Surprisingly, it’s been over 10 years since most people have had a hearing exam.
Harper is one of them. She schedules a checkup and cleaning with her dentist every six months and she shows up dutifully for her annual medical test. She even replaces her timing belt every 6000 miles. But she always forgets to schedule her hearing exam.
Hearing assessments are essential for a variety of reasons, early detection of hearing loss being one of the most important. Harper’s ears and hearing will remain as healthy as possible if she determines how often to get her hearing tested.
So you should have your hearing examined how often?
If the last time Harper got a hearing assessment was over ten years ago, that’s disconcerting. Or perhaps it isn’t. Our reaction will differ depending on how old she is. That’s because we have different guidelines based on age.
- If you are over fifty years old: The general recommendation is that anyone above the age of fifty should schedule yearly hearing tests As you age, the noise damage you’ve sustained over a lifetime can begin to speed up, which means hearing loss is more likely to start affecting your life. Moreover, as we get older we’re more likely to be dealing with other health conditions that can have an impact on hearing.
- If you are under fifty years old: It’s usually recommended that you have a hearing exam about once every three to ten years. There’s no harm in having 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 frequently. It’s fast, easy, and painless so why wouldn’t you?
Indications you should get your hearing assessed
Naturally, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing assessment isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with us. Signs of hearing loss may begin to appear. And when they do you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test.
Here are some indications that you need a hearing test:
- You’re having a hard time hearing conversations when you’re in a loud setting.
- You need people to talk louder or repeat themselves.
- The volume on your stereo or TV is getting louder and louder.
- Having a really tough time understanding people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise.
- You abruptly can’t hear out of one ear.
- You’re having a difficult time hearing sounds in higher frequencies such as consonants.
- Your ears sound muffled as if you had water in them.
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. You’ll know what’s going on with your ears as soon as you come in for a test.
What are the benefits of hearing testing?
Harper could be late getting her hearing test for several reasons.
It may have slipped her mind.
Maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with it. But there are tangible advantages to having your hearing examined per recommendations.
Even if you think your hearing is perfectly 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 reason for regular hearing tests is that somebody like Harper will be able to detect issues before her hearing is permanently diminished. Recognizing your hearing loss early by having your hearing checked when you should will help you keep your ears healthier, longer. If you allow your hearing to go, it can have an impact on your overall health.
