Should I Get a Hearing Test?

At what point should you think about getting your hearing assessed? Here are a few signs you need to get your hearing assessed.

The other day, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was meant to be humorous. But there’s nothing comical about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been increasing. And I began to question whether I should schedule a hearing test.

There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. Simply take a quick moment to book an appointment.

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

Indications you should get a hearing test

If you’ve detected any recent changes that might be indicative of hearing loss, scheduling a thorough hearing assessment with a professional is probably a wise decision. Clearly, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a pretty solid indication of hearing loss.

• It’s hard to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy space and had trouble keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
• People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The problem may not always be volume but instead definition.
• You regularly overlook text messages: Your phone is meant to be attention-grabbing. If you frequently fail to observe incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is typically a sign of hearing damage.

Other signs you should make an appointment for a hearing test:

• Your ear is still blocked following an infection
• You have an accumulation of earwax you can’t get rid of by yourself
• You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
• Determining where sounds are originating from can be challenging
• You’re experiencing balance issues

Routine hearing assessments

Even if you aren’t observing any obvious symptoms, it’s still significant to schedule routine hearing exams.

• It is recommended to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
• If your hearing is normal, get hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display signs of hearing loss, have it assessed immediately and then yearly thereafter.

Routine screenings may identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are noticeable. The earlier you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing over time. This means you should probably turn your TV down and set up a hearing test.