When Should You Get a Hearing Test?
Most people wait up to 10 years to schedule a hearing test once they notice their hearing has changed. In many cases, hearing is not evaluated until conversations become difficult, the television volume keeps creeping higher, or loved ones begin pointing out communication struggles.
But when should you get a hearing test?
The best time is at the first sign that your hearing has changed, even if the change seems minor. You don’t need to wait until hearing loss begins interfering with everyday life. Consider getting a hearing test when you first notice changes such as difficulty understanding conversations, frequently asking people to repeat themselves, increasing the television volume or struggling to hear in background noise. A baseline hearing test can also be useful before noticeable hearing problems develop, particularly for people with hearing-loss risk factors.
What Are the Early Signs You Should Get Your Hearing Tested?
Hearing changes often happen gradually, making them surprisingly easy to overlook. You may notice that:
- Voices sound muffled, especially in noisy restaurants
- Phone conversations are becoming harder to follow
- You ask people to repeat themselves more often
- You have difficulty following group conversations
- The television volume is gradually getting louder
- Family or friends notice changes in your hearing before you do
Because these changes can develop slowly, it’s easy to assume they’re simply part of aging or something to deal with later. However, identifying hearing loss earlier can give you a better understanding of what’s changing and what you can do about it.
Why Is Early Hearing Testing Important?
Hearing isn’t only about your ears. It also involves your brain’s ability to process and make sense of sound.
When hearing becomes more difficult, the brain may have to work harder to process sound and fill in missing information. This additional mental effort, often called cognitive load, can leave fewer resources available for memory, focus and comprehension.
Research has also found associations between untreated hearing loss and listening fatigue, social withdrawal, depression, increased fall risk and cognitive decline.
One significant body of research has identified hearing loss as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Additional research from the ACHIEVE study suggests that treating hearing loss with hearing aids may help slow cognitive decline among some older adults at increased risk.
These findings don’t mean that hearing loss causes dementia or that hearing aids prevent it. They do reinforce the importance of including hearing as part of your overall health care.
Why Should You Get a Baseline Hearing Test?
You don’t necessarily have to notice significant hearing loss before getting your hearing tested.
A baseline hearing test provides a snapshot of how well you’re hearing today. That gives your audiologist something to compare against during future evaluations and can make gradual changes easier to identify.
Think of it much like a routine eye exam. Even when your vision seems fine, regular testing provides useful information about how your eyesight is changing over time. Hearing evaluations can serve a similar purpose.
Who Should Consider Regular Hearing Tests?
Establishing a hearing baseline may be particularly valuable if you have factors that could increase your risk of hearing loss, including:
- A family history of hearing loss
- Frequent exposure to loud noise
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Certain medications that may affect hearing
Your audiologist can recommend how frequently your hearing should be evaluated based on your age, hearing history, lifestyle and individual risk factors.
What Happens During a Hearing Test?
The good news is that hearing tests are painless and provide a considerable amount of information about your hearing.
During a comprehensive hearing evaluation, an audiologist can examine your ears and measure how well you hear different sounds and frequencies. The results help determine whether hearing loss is present and, if so, the type and degree of hearing loss.
If a change is identified, your audiologist can explain the results and discuss appropriate next steps. Depending on your hearing, those recommendations might include monitoring, hearing protection, communication strategies or hearing technology.
Don’t Wait Until Hearing Loss Becomes Obvious
Hearing health is an important part of overall health and staying connected to the people and activities that matter to you.
You don’t need to wait until you’re struggling to follow conversations or constantly turning up the television. Even a slight change in hearing is worth paying attention to.
If you’ve noticed a difference, or simply don’t know what your current hearing baseline looks like, schedule a hearing test with Hearing Associates. A comprehensive hearing evaluation can help you understand how well you’re hearing today and whether there are changes worth monitoring.
Even a slight change in hearing is worth paying attention to. Scheduling a hearing test sooner rather than later can make a meaningful difference in long-term hearing and cognitive health.