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

When should you get a hearing exam? Here are a few indications that reveal you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my children expressed discontent with the high volume of the TV. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about neglected hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I began to think about whether I should schedule a hearing test.

There aren’t many reasons not to schedule a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to worry about discomfort. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Given the significant impact that neglected hearing loss can have on your overall well-being, it’s critical to be proactive about monitoring your hearing.

You should have your hearing checked if you notice these signs

If you’ve recently experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, if things are hard to hear, that’s a rather strong indication of hearing loss.

• It’s difficult to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had difficulty keeping up with the conversation because of all the background noise? That might be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you need to worry about, it’s a loss of clarity.
• You frequently miss text messages: Your phone is designed to be attention-grabbing. If you regularly fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Relentless ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is typically a sign of damage to your hearing.

Here are some other scenarios that suggest you should arrange a hearing evaluation:

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t get rid of by yourself
• Medications you’re using might be damaging your hearing
• Identifying where sounds are originating from can be challenging
• You have vertigo

Routine hearing evaluations

Even if you’re not experiencing any noticeable symptoms, it’s still important to schedule regular hearing exams.

• It is encouraged to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• For individuals with normal hearing, it’s recommended to have a hearing exam every three years.
• If you show symptoms of hearing loss, get it checked right away and then yearly after that.

Routine screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are noticeable. Early expert attention can dramatically increase your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should lower the volume on your television and think about setting up a hearing test.