It’s not necessary to feel like your by yourself if you haven’t had a hearing test since you were a youngster. It isn’t usually part of a routine adult physical and unfortunately, we tend to deal with hearing reactively instead of proactively. In fact, even when they realize they have hearing loss, the majority of people disregard it for as many as seven years which can seriously affect your health. In fact, over time, it’s been proven that your general health cost will increase if you have untreated loss of hearing.
The good news, hearing exams are easy, painless, and provide a wide range of information for our experts to assist you, both for diagnosing hearing problems and assessing whether interventions such as hearing aids are working. When you were younger, you might remember the audiometry test from school, but a full hearing test will give you a better understanding of your hearing without a lollipop or sticker.
It’s crucial that you regularly have your hearing examined even though you may not typically give your hearing as much consideration as your teeth or eyes. You might not recognize an issue with your hearing for a long time. Loss of hearing often occurs slowly, and the earlier you detect an issue with your hearing, the sooner you may be able to fix it.
When Should You Get Tested?
Usually the hospital will test infants for hearing loss before they release them. Teenagers should be tested during routine exams with their physicians and children should have formal hearing assessments at the ages of 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 years old according to The American Academy of Pediatrics.
If you are in between the ages of 18 and 45, it is suggested that you have your hearing examined every five years and then more often as you get older. After you turn 60 you should be tested every two years and if you are in between 46 and 60 every three. But you may need to get checked more frequently. Your unique situation will dictate when you should be a test. If you notice your hearing isn’t what it once was, you should have it tested right away. Quite a few health problems are associated with untreated hearing loss, like increased risk of falling, cognitive decline, and depression. Your ability to do work efficiently and your relationships can also be influenced.
There are also some circumstances in which you should have a hearing exam as soon as possible to address loss of hearing that could get worse. An immediate hearing test is advisable if:
- You are experiencing vertigo
- Pinpointing where sounds are coming from is difficult
- You are experiencing a constant ringing in your ears
- Asking people to repeat themselves is something you have to do constantly
- Your ear was infected, or there was a buildup of earwax
- You are unable to hear conversations, particularly when in crowded areas
Whether you are at risk of hearing loss is another consideration. You should have your hearing tested more often, as an example, if you are exposed to loud noise or if loss of hearing runs in your family.
Also, more than 200 ototoxic medications exist. These medications can be quite harmful for your hearing and they range from certain antibiotics to aspirin. Check with your doctor to make certain any medicines you are taking aren’t impacting your hearing. Consider having your hearing tested more frequently in order to address any hearing loss immediately if you are taking any ototoxic medications.
Also, consider your habits and whether they might contribute to hearing loss. Regularly using your earbuds? Hearing loss has significantly increased in younger people, and many experts think that this is because of the use of headphones and earbuds. Your hearing can also be significantly harmed by loud concerts, shows, and machinery. If you feel that it’s time for you to get your hearing checked, schedule an appointment today.