When should you get a hearing test? Here are a few indications that suggest you should have your hearing tested.

Recently, my children expressed displeasure with the loud volume of the TV. My answer …” What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing funny about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started to question whether I should schedule a hearing exam.

There aren’t many good reasons not to schedule a hearing exam. They are non-intrusive, they don’t involve any radiation, and you can be at ease without concerns about your comfort level. Just take a quick moment to book an appointment.

Thinking about how much untreated hearing loss can affect your health, it’s important to be more cautious about it.

You should have your hearing assessed if you detect these signs

If you’ve recently noticed any signs of hearing loss, it’s most likely a good idea to get a professional hearing screening. If it’s difficult to hear, it most likely means there’s substantial hearing impairment.

• It’s difficult to hear in noisy locations: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had trouble following the conversation because of all the background noise? It’s possible that this could be an indication of impaired hearing.
• It sounds like everyone’s mumbling all the time: Sometimes it’s not loss of volume you have to be concerned about, it’s a loss of definition.
• You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it could be because you’re noy hearing them.
• Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus, is often a sign of hearing damage.

Other indications you should schedule a hearing test:

• Your ear hasn’t opened after an infection
• Surplus earwax has accumulated and can’t be removed by self-cleaning methods
• Medications you’re taking might be harming your hearing
• It is difficult to identify the source of sounds
• You have vertigo

Regular checkups

But what if you haven’t recognized any of these indications of hearing loss? Is there a criteria for how often you should have your hearing tested?

• Get a baseline test done at some point after you’re 21.
• If your hearing is normal, undergo hearing assessments every three years.
• If you display symptoms of hearing impairment, have it assessed right away and then every year thereafter.

Regular screenings may detect hearing loss early, before any symptom are noticeable. The sooner you get treatment, the better you’ll be able to preserve your hearing in the long run. This means you should probably turn your TV down and schedule a hearing test.