4 Reasons to Get a Hearing Test

An audiologist is a specialist, trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of ear and balance health conditions. However, their most commonly requested service is the hearing test. Your audiologist can give you a whole picture of your hearing health with a range of visual inspections and listening tests, but what are the reasons that you should consider making that appointment?

You are worried your hearing is getting worse

The clearest sign you need a hearing test is that you are concerned that your hearing is getting worse. It can be hard to recognize a gradual shift in hearing, but many people suffer from symptoms such as: having difficulty understanding speech, having trouble making out specific sounds in crowded spaces, having to turn up the volume on your TV, speakers or headphones because you can make out the sound clearly enough. If you begin to recognize that your hearing might not be as good as it used to, the sooner you make an appointment for a hearing test, the sooner you can get your answers.

You hear a ringing, buzzing or other noises in your ear

Tinnitus is a symptom that often accompanies hearing loss. To some, it might be the very first symptom they notice. A hearing test includes a visual examination of the physical ear, which can help the audiologist find not only the signs of some causes of hearing loss but also some causes of tinnitus. Either way, hearing loss treatments like hearing aids are also often used to treat tinnitus, so your audiologist will be able to offer some kind of relief, regardless if you have hearing loss or unrelated tinnitus.

You haven’t had a hearing test in a while

Most individuals have a hearing test when they are younger to spot any signs of hearing difficulties. If you have never had one, you should make an appointment with an audiologist to get a better picture of your hearing health. Otherwise, the hearing test should be part of your annual physical every four years. If you are over the age of 50, you should have a hearing test every year, as the likelihood of hearing loss is much higher as we age. Remember, hearing loss is gradual, so it’s important to check up on it every now and then even if you don’t have any symptoms.

It can help with a wide variety of other conditions

Although hearing loss is troubling by itself, it’s also an early warning for chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, meaning it can help you be more proactive about your health in general. What’s more, hearing loss has been linked to isolation, depression and even cognitive decline, meaning that protecting your hearing is also protecting your head.

Hearing loss is gradual and it can creep up you over time with you noticing too much. If any of the signs above are familiar to you, then you should make an appointment with your audiologist as soon the possible. The sooner that hearing loss is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated, often preventing it from getting worse.