It’s not necessary to feel like your by yourself if you haven’t had a hearing test since you were a kid. It isn’t usually part of a routine adult physical and sadly, we often treat hearing reactively instead of proactively. The majority of people ignore hearing loss, even when they are aware of it, for up to seven years which can significantly affect your health. In fact, untreated hearing loss has been proven to raise your healthcare costs over the years.
The good news, In order for our hearing experts to assist you, we recommend a hearing exam which is simple, pain-free and offers a wide range of information. Both to learn if interventions such as hearing aids are helping you and also for diagnosing potential hearing issues. A full audiometry exam is more involved than what you may remember from childhood and you won’t get a sticker or a lollipop when it’s finished but you’ll gain a much clearer understanding of your hearing.
It’s essential that you regularly have your hearing examined even though you may not normally give your hearing as much consideration as your teeth or eyes. It can be a long time before you detect that there is a problem with your hearing. Because hearing loss commonly happens gradually over time it’s not easy to detect it at first, but the sooner you can, the more likely you will be able to efficiently treat it.
How do You Know When You Should be Examined?
All newborns should be evaluated for hearing loss, and usually, the hospital handles that before they are released. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children have formal hearing exams when they are 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 years of age and that teenagers should have hearing tests during wellness appointments with their physicians.
It’s recommended that if you are between the ages of 18 and 49, you have your hearing examined every five years and then, as you age, more frequently. After you turn 60 you need to get examined every two years and if you are between 46 and 60 every three. But don’t let that to stop you. Your specific circumstances will determine when you should get an exam. If you find that your hearing isn’t as good as it once was, you should have it tested immediately. Untreated loss of hearing has been linked to cognitive decline, depression and increased risk of falling and other health problems. It can also affect your relationships and your ability to work effectively.
And you need to get a hearing test, in some circumstances, as soon as you can if you have hearing loss that is getting worse quickly. The following scenarios indicate that you should get a hearing test immediately:
- Conversations are difficult to hear when you are in a crowded area especially
- There is earwax buildup or you had an ear infection
- You are experiencing vertigo
- It is difficult to pinpoint where sounds are coming from
- You find yourself having to constantly ask people to repeat themselves
- Your ears have constant ringing in them
Another factor is whether you are at a higher risk for hearing loss. As an example, if loss of hearing runs in your family or you are exposed to loud noises on a regular basis you should get your hearing checked more regularly.
There are also more than 200 ototoxic medications. These medications can be extremely harmful for your hearing and they range from some antibiotics to aspirin. So that you can be certain none of your medications are affecting your ears, check with your doctor. If you need to take a medication that you know is ototoxic, consider getting more frequent hearing testing so you can deal with any hearing loss immediately.
Also, think about how your habits may be affecting your hearing loss. Constantly using your earbuds? Hearing loss has substantially increased in younger people, and many experts believe that this is because of the use of headphones and earbuds. shows, loud concerts, and machinery can also do appreciable damage to your hearing. Schedule your hearing exam today if it’s time for you to get your hearing examined.