Have you recently noticed a change in your hearing? It’s possible that you have found that you are finding it more of a challenge to hear someone speaking to you. Alternatively, you might have noticed that you can no longer hear relatively quiet noises such as rain falling outside. This could mean that you are experiencing a certain level of hearing loss. In other cases, someone in your life might notice a change in your hearing.
It’s important to note that your hearing can change at any age. There’s a common misconception that your hearing only changes once you reach a certain age and this just isn’t the case. It can impact you as a child, as a young adult or as you get older. Indeed, your hearing might change after significant levels of exposure to loud noises.
So, how do you find out if your hearing has changed? To do this, you need to get your hearing tested. People tend to think that they should only get their hearing tested once they recognize a chance. But how often should you really test your hearing and what does this depend on?
Factors That Impact How Often You Should Test Your Hearing
People tend to get their general health checked regularly. This is usually part of a medical care plan. For instance, you might get annual physicals as well as various dental examinations and vision tests. But you might not arrange to get your hearing checked on an annual basis or anywhere near as regularly.
Part of the reason for this is that a change in your hearing is far less apparent compared to other changes. As well as this, physicians don’t often recommend that you should get your hearing tested regularly. However, you certainly should and how often you check your hearing will depend on your age.
For instance, it’s important to ensure that newborns go through hearing screenings. They should also get regular checkups through childhood. This is important as if a child is experiencing hearing loss, it can impact various aspects of their life. For instance, it can mean that they have more difficulty paying attention in school.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, people between 18 and 50 who have not noticed any changes to their hearing should get it tested about every five years. Some professionals recommend that you get it tested every three years.
When Might You Need More Regular Hearing Tests?
In some cases, you might need to get your hearing tested more regularly. Some examples include if you are already experiencing a certain level of hearing loss. It’s quite common for your hearing to continue to change over time. As such, you need to make sure that you keep track of this and guarantee that you continue to get the right treatment. If you think that your hearing has changed again, then it’s worth speaking to a hearing instrument specialist about the options available to you.
You might also want to get your hearing tested more regularly if you are often exposed to loud noises. Loud noises can make it more likely that you will experience hearing loss. For instance, you might work in environments with loud noises such as on a construction site. Then it’s recommended that you test your hearing about once a year.
Finally, if you are over 60, then it’s far more likely that you will experience hearing loss compared to someone who is younger. As such, you should make sure that you are again getting your hearing tested at least once a year. One in three people over 65 experience some form of hearing loss.
We hope this helps you understand how often you should get your hearing tested. In doing so, you can make sure that you are not missing a change to your hearing. Remember, it’s always best to notice a change to your hearing early. This can ensure that your hearing doesn’t continue to change over time or you might be able to slow down the change. Get in touch with The Hearing Aid Place at 510-768-7091 for more information on why hearing checks are important and how regularly you should book yourself in.
