48 million people in the US could benefit from treating their hearing loss. While it is an issue that begins in the ears, the communication issues which arise affect mood, mental health and physical safety. Hearing loss is permanent, but it can be treated effectively by various methods, depending on the severity. A recent study reported that about 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. Many people will diligently change their oil, or visit the dentist while ignoring checking on the status of their hearing. This issue is that many don’t know how often they should get a hearing test.
How Often Should You Check Your Hearing?
For most people, the consensus is that you should have your hearing tested every three years regardless of your age or perceived symptoms. Hearing loss often is present despite people’s awareness of the condition. While hearing loss is commonly associated with age a younger generation is more commonly grappling with hearing loss due to exposure to noise. Even a mild case of hearing loss can affect cognitive decline, the sooner you catch a hearing impairment the better. The important thing to understand is that you cannot have your hearing tested too much, but three years is the bare minimum that someone should go without a hearing test. It’s a clear and painless test and you never know when exposure to noise or a health complication progresses your symptoms and it’s already affecting you, even if you don’t directly realize it.
The Signs of Hearing Loss
The most obvious factor which should motivate you to test your hearing is if you are suffering from any of the common signs of hearing loss. The problem is that most people don’t even know they have an issue with hearing because the condition starts slow and subtlety. By the time it is a significant issue, it may be hard to hear people even in the most ideal of listening situations and the negative side effects have already progressed. Knowing and understanding the signs of hearing loss can help you take the leap to schedule a hearing test. If you find that you have to ask people to repeat themselves more often than not, this is a significant clue that you have some degree of hearing loss. Other common signs include:
- People sound muffled or like they are mumbling when they speak.
- You struggle to hear a conversation in a loud or crowded environment.
- Others complain that you need the TV turned all the way up to hear.
- You struggle to hear over the telephone
If you have ever dealt with any of these issues, it’s a good idea to schedule a hearing test before these symptoms become worse.
You Are Reaching Your Golden Years
It’s a beautiful thing to age, even if there are some adaptations you will have to make in your life. If you have reached fifty years old, this is a cause to celebrate but it also calls for more routine health checkups – including your ears. Age-induced hearing loss is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. By the time you reach 65, one in three of your peers will have hearing loss and by the time you reach 75 half will have developed the condition. Loss of hearing is more liable to affect your life as you grow older because noise damage starts to add up.
The Benefits of a Hearing Test
Many people put off dealing with their hearing due to denial that they have an issue or fear that admitting they have hearing loss means also admitting that they are aging. The important thing to understand is that treating your hearing loss can help you to connect to the people in your life that you love, stay involved in your hobbies and passions and even help you perform your best in the workplace.
If you have your hearing tested, even if you don’t have a serious issue, it will be easier to detect hearing deviations in the future because you will have a baseline reading to compare to in the future. Early detection by a hearing test can help your hearing stay healthy for a long time, so the sooner you identify a hearing loss, the better. If you haven’t already, schedule an appointment today to discover your options.