According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. Sofia is one of those people. She goes to her annual doctor’s appointments, she visits 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 exams are important for a wide range of reasons, the most prominent of which is that it’s often difficult for you to discover the earliest signs of hearing loss without one. Knowing how often she should get a hearing exam will help Sofia keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as she can for as long as possible.

How Often Each Year Should my Ears Get Tested?

We might be alarmed if Sophia hadn’t had a hearing examination in a decade. Or maybe we don’t think anything of it. Our reaction, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, most likely will vary depending on how old she is. This is because hearing professionals have different guidelines based on age.

• If you are older than fifty: But if you’re over fifty, the suggestion is, you get a hearing test every year. As you get older, the noise damage you’ve incurred over a lifetime can begin to accelerate, meaning hearing loss is more likely to begin impacting your life. Plus, there are other health issues that can impact your hearing.
• At least every three years, it’s suggested that you get a hearing assessment. Of course, if you think you should have your hearing tested more frequently, there is no harm. But at least every three years is the bare minimum. If you are subjected to loud noise repeatedly or work at a job where noise is common, you should err on the side of getting checked more often. There’s no reason not to do it, it’s painless and simple.

When it comes to your hearing, more often is certainly better. The sooner you identify any issues, the more quickly you’ll be able to address whatever hearing loss that might have developed since your last hearing exam.

You Should Get Your Hearing Checked if You Notice These Signs

Needless to say, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing exam isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with a hearing specialist. In some cases, you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And in those circumstances, it’s usually a good idea to immediately get in touch with a hearing specialist and schedule a hearing test.

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

• Listening to your favorite tunes at extremely high volumes.
• Your hearing is muted as if there is water in your ears.
• Constantly asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
• Difficulty hearing discussions in noisy environments.
• It’s typical for hearing loss in the high pitched register to fail first and because consonants are in a higher pitched register than vowels, they commonly go first.
• Phone conversations are always difficult to understand

When these warning signs begin to accumulate, it’s a strong sign that the ideal time to have a hearing test is right now. The sooner you get your hearing tested, the more frequently you’ll know what’s happening with your ears.

What Are The Benefits of Hearing Testing?

There are plenty of excuses why Sofia may be late in having her hearing exam. Denial is a top choice. Perhaps thinking about it is something she is simply avoiding. But there are actual benefits to having your hearing tested per recommendations.

And it will be simpler to diagnose hearing deviations in the future if you get your hearing examined by forming a baseline reading even if it seems as if everything is normal. If you identify your hearing loss before it becomes noticeable, you’ll be able to protect it better.

The point of regular hearing testing is that somebody like Sofia will be in a position to detect issues before her hearing is permanently impaired. Early detection by a hearing assessment can help your hearing stay healthy for a long time. Understanding the effects of hearing loss on your overall health, that’s important.