Healthy hearing is one of the greatest gifts in life and is something most people take for granted until they start to experience hearing loss. However, with over 50-million Americans experiencing some form of hearing loss, there is a very strong chance that you will too. Thankfully, several steps can be taken to stay in control of the situation and reduce its impact. Hearing tests are one of the most valuable tools at your disposal,
But when should you visit the audiologist to have your hearing checked? Here’s everything you need to know about booking the hearing test for yourself or a loved one.
How often should you book a general hearing checkup?
Hearing loss is one of the most commonly overlooked health issues in America and it’s not hard to understand why. After all, nobody knows whether they can hear the same sounds as their friends and family until they have a professional hearing test. Likewise, the human brain is very good at filling in the blanks, which can trick you into ignoring mild or moderate hearing loss until it escalates into severe hearing loss.
As with your eyes, teeth and other body parts, your ears should be checked by a professional from time to time as a part of a general health checkup routine. For most adults who do not experience known symptoms of hearing loss, it is not necessary to see the audiologist very often. However, if it has been more than three years since your last hearing test, it is a good idea to call your audiologist.
It is advised to have more frequent hearing tests if you fall into the following categories;
- Children: Youngsters should have hearing tests as newborns, infants and on a semi-frequent basis throughout their schooling years as their bodies are still developing.
- Seniors: Anyone over the age of 60 should have a baseline hearing test every one to three years to screen for age-related hearing loss.
- Workers: If you are a worker who is regularly exposed to noises of over 85db, you should get checked annually. Machinery users, musicians and airport workers are some examples.
Regular hearing tests are the best way to identify potential hearing loss at the earliest stage. In turn, the audiologist can advise the necessary treatment to manage the issue and encourage a better quality of life.
When should hearing loss symptoms be tested by an audiologist?
While hearing tests should be embraced by everyone as a precautionary measure that also delivers peace of mind, they carry even greater significance for individuals who have hearing loss symptoms. As mentioned, it’s not always easy to determine that you may have mild hearing loss. Therefore, you must remain vigilant to any signs of declined hearing.
The most common symptoms to consider are:
- Struggling to follow conversations, especially in groups.
- You listen to the TV at a louder setting than before.
- Regularly asking people to repeat themselves.
- You avoid social situations with large groups.
- Frequently missing phone calls or knocks at the door.
- Struggling to hear young children or women.
- Not hearing emergency vehicle sirens until you see them.
- Failing to hear someone when they call you from out of vision.
- You find yourself lip-reading from loved ones.
- You experience tinnitus or ringing in the ears.
Furthermore, it is worth calling a professional audiologist if you have been exposed to a loud explosion or other huge noise. As with all of the above symptoms, it does not mean you definitely have hearing loss, as we all experience some of those signs from time to time. Nonetheless, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
What about if you already have known hearing loss?
If you already have hearing loss, it’s likely that you have been advised to wear hearing aids. You should plan to continue regular visits with your audiologist to monitor your level of hearing loss and ensure your devices are functioning optimally. In mild cases, you may find that this happens every two to four years. Severe cases may require annual or even biannual tests.
The hearing test will check for:
- Further hearing loss
- Signs of related conditions
- The performance of your hearing aids
- General hearing health
As someone with known hearing loss, it is also important to pay close attention to any changes that may occur. If you notice that your hearing profile has altered, call your audiologist for an appointment.
Your hearing is far too important to go unnoticed or unchecked, and hearing tests from a professional audiologist are essential. For the sake of a 60-90 minute examination, your quality of life could be dramatically improved.
Book your hearing test with Natural Hearing Centers at (888) 221-9156 today!
