We all rely on our hearing to help us communicate with loved ones, navigate the world around us, and identify where a sound is coming from. We rarely think about our ears at all until something goes wrong. Whether or not you’ve noticed changes to your hearing health, you may be wondering when to take a hearing test.
Baseline Hearing Test
When was the last time you had a hearing test? If you’ve never had your hearing tested, now is an excellent time to take a hearing test. Even if you don’t have hearing loss, a baseline test will give you a clear picture of your hearing range, and you’ll find out exactly what you can hear. In future tests, your hearing health specialist can compare test results with your baseline test, and see what sounds you’ve lost.
Routine Hearing Test
You visit the doctor for annual physicals and get your vision checked regularly. Your hearing health should be treated the same way. After you’ve had baseline testing, it’s recommended that adults over the age of 50 get their hearing tested every three years, and seniors over the age of 65 should have their hearing tested every year. Routine hearing tests will help you monitor your hearing health, and you’ll notice the moment your hearing abilities change.
Some doctors will do a quick hearing screening as part of your annual physical, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your hearing is healthy. It’s important to check your hearing every few years even if you haven’t noticed a hearing loss. Hearing loss is often a gradual process, and you might not notice the subtle changes in your hearing health. Your brain accommodates to the changes, and you may not even realize your hearing has been deteriorating for several months.
Changes in Hearing
If you’ve noticed any changes in your hearing, it’s time to take a hearing test! Hearing can sometimes be affected by an illness such as an ear infection, an injury to the head or ear, or even a buildup of earwax in the ear canal. Changes in hearing can also be caused by damage to the cells inside your inner ear, either due to exposure to dangerously loud sounds, or as part of the natural aging process. If you’ve noticed any changes to your hearing, for whatever reason, schedule a hearing test as soon as possible.
Watch for Signs of Hearing Loss
Watch for changes to your hearing health, and schedule a hearing test the moment you notice any signs of hearing loss, such as:
- Turning up the volume on the TV or radio
- Asking people to repeat themselves many times
- Feeling as though speech sounds are muffled
- Avoiding social situations where you struggle to follow conversations
- Feeling confused and unable to hear clearly in places with a lot of background noise
- Difficulty talking on the phone and hearing the person on the other end
- Extreme exhaustion at the end of the day
What to Expect During a Hearing Test
Hearing tests are completely non-invasive and take approximately one hour. The hearing health specialist will start with a few questions about your overall health to learn more about you, and look for any factors that could be causing a hearing loss. After a short visual exam to check the outer ear and ear canal, you’re ready for the tone testing. You will listen to a series of tones at low and high pitches and at various volumes, and all you need to do is indicate whenever you hear a sound. The hearing specialist will walk you through the results of your test, and ask you a few questions about your lifestyle and listening challenges. With all this information, they’ll be able to recommend the best hearing devices that will match both your hearing needs and your lifestyle.
Treating Hearing Loss
If your hearing test reveals a hearing loss, you need to treat your hearing loss as soon as possible. Living with untreated hearing loss is associated with memory problems, fatigue, lowered independence, social isolation, and even depression. The good news is that modern hearing technology can help you hear all the sounds you’ve been missing, and the perfect hearing aid can give you back the confidence of clear hearing.