According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. Sofia is one of them. She goes to her yearly doctor’s appointments, she sees a dentist every six months, and she gets the oil changed in her car every 3000 miles. But she hasn’t had a hearing test in quite some time.

Hearing assessments are beneficial for a wide variety of reasons, the most important of which is that it’s often difficult for you to notice the earliest signs of hearing loss if you don’t get one. Knowing how regularly she should get a hearing exam will help Sofia keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

How Frequently Do You Need to Get a Hearing Assessment?

If the last time Sofia took a hearing test was ten years ago, we might be worried. Or we may think it’s completely normal. Our reaction, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, most likely will vary depending on her age. This is because hearing specialists have different recommendations based on age.

• If you are older than fifty: But if you’re over fifty, the recommendation is, you have a hearing test each year. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to speed up, meaning loss of hearing is more likely to begin affecting your life. Also, there are other health concerns that can impact your hearing.
• It’s generally suggested that you have a hearing exam every three years or so. Certainly, if you think you should get your ears tested more frequently, that’s also fine. The minimum is every three years. If you are subjected to loud noise frequently or work at a job where noise is typical, you should decide to get checked more frequently. There’s no reason not to do it, it’s painless and easy.

If you would like to undergo hearing examinations or tests more often, there’s obviously no harm in that, at least in terms of your hearing. The sooner you detect any issues, the sooner you’ll be able to address whatever loss of hearing that might have developed since your last hearing exam.

You Should Get Your Hearing Checked if You Notice These Signs

Needless to say, your annual (or semi-annual) hearing test isn’t the only good occasion to make an appointment with a hearing professional. Sometimes, you start to notice some signs of hearing loss. And in those cases, it’s typically a good idea to promptly get in touch with a hearing professional and schedule a hearing exam.

Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:

• Difficulties hearing conversations in loud environments.
• It’s typical for loss of hearing in the high pitched register to fail first and because consonants are in a higher pitched register than vowels, they normally go first.
• Having a very hard time comprehending people when talking on the phone, mobile or otherwise
• Continually asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
• Your hearing is dull like there is water in your ears.
• Turning your television or car stereo to extremely high volumes (if your neighbors start complaining, that’s a good indication you should see a hearing specialist right away).

A good indicator that right now is the best time to have a hearing test is when the warning signs begin to accumulate. You need to recognize what’s happening with your ears and that means having a hearing test sooner rather than later.

What Are The Benefits of Hearing Testing?

Sophia may be late for her hearing exam for several reasons. Denial is a top choice. It could be that she’s just avoiding dealing with it. But getting your hearing examined on the recommended schedule has actual advantages.

Even when your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing exam can help set a baseline reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You can protect your hearing better if you identify it before it becomes an issue.

That’s the reason why Sophia has to go to her regular hearing appointments before any permanent damage happens. Early diagnosis by a hearing exam can help your hearing stay healthy for a long time. Considering the impact of hearing loss on your total health, that’s essential.