According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. Sofia is one of them. She knows she has to have her oil changed every 3000 miles, she sees the dentist every six months, and she checks in punctually for her annual medical exam. But she hasn’t had a hearing test in a long time.
There are lots of reasons why it’s essential to have hearing exams, finding initial symptoms of hearing loss is probably the most significant one. Knowing how regularly she should get a hearing examination will help Sofia keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as she can for as long as possible.
How Frequently Should You Get a Hearing Examination?
If the last time Sofia had a hearing exam was a decade ago, we may be worried. Or perhaps it doesn’t phase us. Depending on Sophia’s age, reactions may vary. This is because hearing professionals have different recommendations based on age.
- At least every three years, it’s suggested that you take a hearing assessment. There’s no issue having your ears examined more often, of course! The minimum is every three years. If you are exposed to loud noise frequently or work in a field where noise is common, you should err on the side of getting checked more frequently. There’s no reason not to get it done, it’s painless and easy.
- If you are older than fifty: The universal recommendation is that anyone over the age of fifty should undergo hearing checks yearly. Hearing loss is more liable to affect your life as you age because noise damage begins to add up. There are also several other variables that can affect your hearing.
If you would like to undergo hearing examinations or tests more frequently, there’s certainly no harm in that, at least when it comes to your hearing. Since the last time you had a hearing exam, you might have new damage you should recognize, so regular hearing tests could be practical.
Signs You Should Get Your Hearing Checked
Of course, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing exam isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with a hearing professional. As an example, if you notice signs of hearing loss. And in those instances, it’s often a good plan to immediately contact a hearing specialist and schedule a hearing exam.
Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:
- Your hearing is muted like there is water in your ears.
- Turning your music to extremely high volumes (if your neighbors begin to complain, that’s a good indication you should see a hearing specialist right away).
- Having a very hard time understanding people when talking on the phone, any phone.
- Continually asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
- It’s typical for loss of hearing in the high pitched register to go first and because consonants are in a higher pitched register than vowels, they usually go first.
- Trouble hearing conversations in loud environments.
When these warning signs start to add up, it’s a strong sign that the ideal time to get a hearing exam is right now. The more frequently you get your hearing checked, the more frequently you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.
Hearing Exams, What Are The Benefits?
Sophia may be late for her hearing exam for many reasons. Denial is a leading choice. Potentially she’s just avoiding thinking about it. But there are tangible benefits to getting your hearing checked per recommendations.
Even when your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing test can help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You can safeguard your hearing better if you identify it before it becomes a problem.
That’s exactly why Sophia needs to go to her scheduled hearing appointments before any permanent damage happens. Early diagnosis by a hearing assessment can help your hearing stay healthy for a long time. It’s essential to consider how hearing loss will influence your total health.
