It’s not necessary to feel like your alone if you haven’t had a hearing examination since you were a youngster. It’s not usually part of a routine adult physical and sadly, we often treat hearing reactively rather than proactively. As a matter of 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. As a matter of fact, over time, it’s been proven that your general health cost will go up if you have untreated hearing loss.

The good news, hearing tests are simple, painless, and give a wide range of facts for our experts to assist you, both for diagnosing hearing problems and assessing whether interventions like hearing aids are working. A full audiometry test is more involved than what you might 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 important that you routinely get your hearing examined even though you may not normally give your hearing as much attention as your teeth or eyes. It can be a considerable time before you notice that there is a problem with your hearing. Loss of hearing often occurs slowly, and the sooner you recognize an issue with your hearing, the sooner you might be able to deal with it.

When Should You Get Examined?

All newborns should be evaluated for hearing loss, and usually, the hospital handles that before they are released. Teenagers should be screened during routine checkups with their physicians and children should have formal hearing tests 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 to 45, it is recommended that you get your hearing checked every five years and then more often as you age. After you turn 60 you need to get checked every two years and if you are between 46 and 60 every three years. But you might need to get tested more often. The regularity with which you need to get examined will ultimately depend on your unique situation. You should have your hearing tested immediately if you find that it isn’t as good as it used to be. Quite a few health problems are associated with neglected hearing loss, like increased danger of falling, cognitive decline, and depression. It can also influence your relationships and your ability to work effectively.

And you should have a hearing exam, in some situations, as soon as possible if you have hearing loss that is getting worse quickly. An immediate hearing test is advisable if:

• Conversations are difficult to hear when you are in a crowded area especially
• Asking people to repeat themselves is something you have to do constantly
• You are experiencing vertigo
• Your ears have constant ringing in them
• It is difficult to pinpoint where sounds are coming from
• There is earwax buildup or you had an ear infection

Whether you are at risk of hearing loss is another consideration. As an example, if loss of hearing runs in your family or you are subjected to loud noises on a regular basis you should have your hearing examined more regularly.

There are also more than 200 ototoxic medications. From Aspirin to certain antibiotics, these drugs can be very bad for your hearing. Consult your doctor to make certain any medicines you are taking aren’t impacting your hearing. If you need to take a medication that you know is ototoxic, think about getting more regular hearing testing so you can manage any hearing loss right away.

Also, think about how your habits may be affecting your hearing loss. Regularly using your earbuds? There’s been a noticeable increase in younger people who have hearing loss, which many experts connect to the increased use of earbuds and other headsets. Your ears can also be significantly harmed by loud concerts, shows, and machinery. Schedule your hearing test today if it’s time for you to get your hearing examined.