When is it time to have your hearing checked? Here are four clues that you need to get your hearing assessed.
The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. And guess what my reply was. I said, “What”? It was a joke. I thought it was funny. But it also wasn’t. I have needed to turn the TV up louder and louder as of late. And that got me thinking that maybe it’s time for a hearing assessment.
There aren’t really that many reasons not to make an appointment for a hearing test. Hearing tests don’t cause you any discomfort, they’re non-invasive, and there’s no radiation. You’ve most likely just been putting it on the back-burner.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, you really should be more diligent about making sure your hearing loss hasn’t worsened.
There are lots of good reasons why hearing assessments are essential. Even slight hearing loss can have an impact on your health and it’s nearly impossible to detect early hearing loss without a hearing test.
So how will you know if you should schedule an appointment? Here are a few ways to tell if you need to consult with us.
Signs you should have your hearing tested
If you’ve recently encountered any of the signs of hearing loss, it’s definitely a smart plan to get a professional hearing screening. Naturally, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.
But some of the other indications of hearing loss are more subtle:
- It seems like people are mumbling when they speak: In some cases, it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned with, it’s a loss of distinction. Trouble making out conversations is one of the first signs that something is going bad with your hearing. If you notice this happening more and more, you might want to make an appointment for a hearing test.
- You’re always missing text messages: Mobile devices are manufactured to be loud enough for you to hear. So if you keep noticing text messages or calls that you missed, it’s most likely because you couldn’t hear them. And maybe, when you think about it, you’re missing out on more everyday sounds.
- You have a tough time hearing when you’re in a loud setting: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble hearing the conversation because of all the background noise? If this seems familiar you could be experiencing hearing loss. As your hearing progresses from healthy to impaired, one of the first signs is the loss of the ability to identify specific sounds.
- Ringing that won’t clear itself up: Ringing in your ears, which is called tinnitus, is typically a sign of hearing damage. Ringing in the ear might or might not indicate hearing loss. But it’s certainly an indication that you should schedule a hearing assessment.
This list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few more:
- It’s challenging to determine the origin of sounds
- You have a buildup of ear wax you’re body can’t clear by itself
- Your ear hasn’t cleared after an infection
- You experience vertigo
- You regularly use certain medications that are recognized to have an impact on your hearing.
This list is in no way exhaustive. For instance, if your TV’s volume is maxed and you still can’t hear it. But any one of these symptoms is worth looking into.
Regular checkups
But how should you deal with it when you’re not certain if you have any symptoms of hearing loss. So how often should you have your hearing checked? There’s a guideline for everything, right, so there’s got to be a guideline for this. There are, in fact, some suggestions.
- Sometime after you turn 21, you should have a hearing assessment. Then your mature hearing will have a baseline.
- If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing examinations or tests every three years or so. That can be a long time to pay attention to, so make certain they’re noted in your medical records somewhere.
- If you show signs of hearing loss, you will want to have it checked right away, and then annually after that.
It will be easier to uncover any hearing loss before any warning signs become obvious with routine examinations. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. So it’s time to give us a call and schedule a hearing assessment.