5 Reasons to Have a Hearing Test

Studies show that when it comes to your health, many adults routinely have their eyes examined, but do not regularly check hearing. That’s a shame because while eyesight can be corrected, once you’ve lost the hair cells in your inner ear, they do not regenerate. While hearing aids are similar to eyeglasses in function, hearing aids can’t repair damage. The earlier you catch hearing loss, the better your ears adapt. Are you thinking that it’s time to schedule a visit to an audiologist? Here are five reasons to have a hearing test.

1. The tests are painless

Forget the world of “no pain, no gain.” When it comes to having your hearing tested, there’s really no discomfort at all. The audiologist performs a physical examination of your ears, checking for any earwax impaction or infection. Then you have at least two hearing tests to check how well you hear sound volume and sound pitch. You wear headphones and listen for tones that are soft, loud, high and low. The audiologist charts the results.

2. To catch hearing loss early

Hearing loss affects one in three people 65 and older. The longer you wait to treat it, the better the chances are that your brain will need more time to recognize how to process certain sounds. When treatment begins with mild hearing loss, you adapt faster to hearing aids and your brain actively processes many sounds.

3. To establish a baseline

If you’re in your 50s or older and the last hearing test you had was when you were a student, it’s time to get an exam! If your tests show that you have little to no significant hearing loss, the audiologist can compare those results to future tests when hearing aids may be indicated. If there is hearing loss, results will be compared to future tests.

4. For health reasons

Hearing loss can occur for many reasons and is not just due to aging. If you work in a noisy environment, a hearing test could help you protect your hearing. Hearing loss may be a symptom of several health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) may indicate hearing loss. Sometimes ear infections or earwax impactions lead to temporary hearing loss and can be treated by an audiologist. Also, some drug side effects include hearing loss.

5. When you turn up the volume

It’s a good idea to schedule a hearing exam if you find that you have to turn up the volume on the TV or radio to hear dialogue, especially if family members complain. The same goes for conversation – if you frequently ask people to repeat themselves or can’t catch what’s being said at a party or a restaurant, you may have some hearing loss. It’s best to get it checked sooner rather than later.

Hopefully these five reasons to have a hearing test have convinced you to find an audiologist and schedule an appointment!