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

When should you schedule a hearing assessment? Here are several indications you need to have your hearing assessed.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. Do you want to know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was funny because it was a joke. But it also wasn’t. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I began to wonder: Should I get a hearing exam?

There aren’t many good reasons not to schedule a hearing test. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without worries about your level of comfort. Simply take a quick moment to book an appointment.

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

You should get your hearing checked if you notice these signs

If you’ve recently experienced any signs of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s difficult to hear, it most likely means there’s considerable hearing impairment.

• Background noise can be overpowering: Have you ever struggled to focus on a conversation in a loud or crowded setting, where the surrounding racket makes it difficult to hear every word? That might be a sign of hearing loss.
• It sounds like everybody’s mumbling all the time: In some cases it’s not loss of volume you have to worry about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re always missing calls or text messages, it could be because you’re noy hearing them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is often an indication of hearing damage.

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

• Your ear is still clogged following an infection
• Excess earwax has amassed and can not be removed by self-cleaning methods
• You take certain medications that can damage your hearing
• Determining where sounds are coming from can be challenging
• You’re experiencing balance problems

Regular checkups

But what if you haven’t noticed any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a guideline for how often you should get your hearing checked?

• It is recommended to have a baseline test completed after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is healthy, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing impairment, have it assessed right away and then yearly afterwards.

Routine screenings may detect hearing loss early, before any warning signs are obvious. Prompt professional attention can considerably improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.