According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. Sofia is one of those people. She knows to have her oil changed every 3000 miles, she sees the dentist every six months, and she checks in punctually for her yearly medical examination. But she has no idea the last time she had a hearing exam or underwent any kind of accurate hearing evaluation.
Hearing assessments are beneficial for a wide range of reasons, detecting early symptoms of hearing loss is likely the most important one. Knowing how regularly she should get a hearing exam will help Sofia keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
How Frequently Do You Need to Have a Hearing Examination?
If the last time Sofia had a hearing exam was ten years ago, we might be alarmed. Or perhaps we don’t think anything of it. Our reaction, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, most likely will vary depending on her age. That’s because hearing specialists have different recommendations based on age.
- At least every three years, it’s recommended that you take a hearing test. Obviously, if you think you should get your ears checked more often, there is no harm. But at least every three years is the bare minimum. You should certainly get evaluated more frequently if you are frequently in a loud setting. There’s no reason not to get it done, it’s painless and easy.
- If you’re older than fifty: The general recommendation is that anybody older than fifty should undergo hearing checks annually. Loss of hearing is more liable to impact your life as you get older because noise damage begins to add up. Plus, there are other health issues that can affect your hearing.
When it comes to your hearing, more often is absolutely better. Since the last time you had a hearing test, you might have new injury you should recognize, so more frequent hearing exams may be helpful.
You Should Get Your Hearing Checked if You Notice These Signs
Needless to say, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good occasion to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. In some cases, you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And in those situations, it’s usually a good idea to immediately contact a hearing professional and schedule a hearing exam.
Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:
- Listening to your favorite tunes at excessively high volumes.
- Your hearing is muted as if there is water in your ears.
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud surroundings.
- When you’re talking to people, you repeatedly have to ask people to speak up.
- It’s typical for loss of hearing in the high pitched register to go first and since consonants are in a higher pitched register than vowels, they generally go first.
- Phone interactions are always tough to understand
A strong indication that right now is the best time to have a hearing test is when the warning signs start to add up. You need to recognize what’s happening with your ears and that means getting a hearing exam as soon as possible.
Hearing Tests, What Are The Benefits?
Sophia may be late for her hearing exam for several reasons. Maybe she hasn’t considered it. Perhaps thinking about it is something she is just avoiding. But getting your hearing checked on the recommended schedule has actual advantages.
And it will be easier to detect hearing deviations in the future if you have your hearing tested by forming a baseline reading even if it seems like everything is just fine. You can protect your hearing better if you detect it before it becomes a problem.
That’s exactly why Sophia has to go to her scheduled hearing appointments before any permanent impairment happens. Early diagnosis by a hearing assessment can help your hearing be healthy for a long time. It’s important to think about how hearing loss will affect your overall health.