At what point should you consider getting your hearing assessed? Here are some signs that reveal you should have your hearing tested.
Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the high volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was intended to be humerous. But there’s nothing funny about untreated hearing loss. The TV has been getting louder and louder. And I started to question whether I should set up a hearing test.
There aren’t many reasons not to set up a hearing test. They’re not invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to worry about discomfort. You just need to take a brief minute to book an appointment.
Given the substantial effect that unaddressed hearing loss can have on your general well-being, it’s critical to be proactive about keeping an eye on your hearing.
You should have your hearing checked if you notice these signs
If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good plan to get a professional hearing screening. Clearly, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a rather solid indication of hearing loss.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy venues: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had difficulty keeping up with the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That might be an indication of hearing loss.
- People always seem to be speaking unclearly: The problem might not always be volume but rather clarity.
- You frequently overlook text messages: Your phone is designed to be attention-grabbing. If you routinely fail to notice incoming calls or texts, the issue may be that you’re not able to hear them.
- Persistent ringing sound: A continuous sensation of ringing in your ears, knowned as tinnitus, is often a sign of damage to your hearing.
Here are some other situations that suggest you should arrange a hearing screening:
- Your ear is still clogged following an infection
- Excess earwax has accumulated and can not be removed by self-cleaning approaches
- You take specific medications that can harm your hearing
- Determining where sounds are originating from can be difficult
- You’re experiencing balance issues
Routine hearing assessments
But what if you haven’t recognized any of these signs of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how frequently you should get your hearing tested?
- It is recommended to have a baseline test carried out after reaching the age of 21.
- If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
- If you demonstrate symptoms of hearing loss, have it checked right away and then annually after that.
Regular screenings might identify hearing loss early, before any warning signs are evident. The sooner you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to maintain your hearing in the long run. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.