If you haven’t had your hearing examined since your grade school days, you’re not alone. It isn’t usually part of a routine adult physical and sadly, we often treat hearing reactively instead of proactively. As a matter of fact, even when they know they have loss of hearing, most people ignore it for up to seven years which can seriously affect your health. In fact, over time, it’s been proven that your general health expense will go up if you have untreated loss of hearing.

The good news, So that our hearing professionals to help you, we recommend a hearing exam which is easy, painless and offers a wealth of information. Both to find out if interventions like hearing aids are helping you and also for diagnosing potential hearing problems. A full audiometry test is more involved than what you may remember from childhood and you won’t get a sticker or a lollipop when it’s finished but you’ll get a much clearer understanding of your hearing.

While you may not give the condition of your hearing as much thought as you do the health of your eyes or your teeth, it is important that you regularly have your hearing tested. You might not notice a problem with your hearing for a long time. Hearing loss usually occurs slowly, and the earlier you recognize an issue with your hearing, the sooner you might be able to fix it.

When Should You Get Examined?

Typically the hospital will test newborns for hearing loss before they send them home. Teenagers should be tested during regular exams with their physicians and children should get formal hearing assessments 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 and 45, it is suggested that you have your hearing examined every five years and then more frequently as you age. After you turn 60 you should get examined every two years and if you are between 46 and 60 every three. But you may need to get checked more often. Your individual situation will determine when you should get an exam. If you notice your hearing isn’t what it once was, you should have it examined immediately. A number of health concerns are associated with untreated hearing loss, such as increased chance of falling, mental decline, and depression. Your ability to work effectively and your relationships can also be impacted.

There are also circumstances in which you should have a hearing exam as soon as possible to address hearing loss that could get worse. An immediate hearing test is advisable if:

• Asking people to repeat themselves is something you have to do constantly
• You are experiencing vertigo
• You are unable to hear conversations, particularly when in crowded areas
• It is difficult to pinpoint where sounds are coming from
• You are experiencing a constant ringing in your ears
• There is earwax buildup or you had an ear infection

Whether you are at risk of hearing loss is another factor. You should get your hearing screened more often, for example, if you are exposed to loud noise or if hearing loss runs in your family.

There are also more than 200 ototoxic medicines. From Aspirin to some antibiotics, these drugs can be very bad for your hearing. So that you can be certain none of your medications are affecting your ears, consult your doctor. Consider getting your hearing tested more frequently in order to address any hearing loss immediately if you are taking any ototoxic medications.

Also, think about your habits and whether they may contribute to hearing loss. Are you using earbuds a lot? Hearing loss has substantially increased in younger people, and many experts think that this is caused by the use of headphones and earbuds. Your hearing can also be significantly damaged by loud concerts, shows, and machinery. If you think that it’s time for you to have your hearing examined, schedule an appointment today.