Should You Have Your Hearing Tested?

When was the last time you had your hearing tested? You might never have had a hearing test, but perhaps you're now wondering whether you should have one. You might think that your hearing has changed or someone else might have said something to you. Or maybe you're just wondering what the health of your hearing actually is. If you're not sure if you should have a hearing test, think about some of the following scenarios below.

You've noticed your hearing isn't as good as it was

Of course, the number one reason you might get a heating test is if you have noticed that you can't hear as well as you once did. There could be lots of things that have caused you to question your hearing, from struggling when people talk to you from another room to finding it hard to hear when you go to the movies. If you've noticed that you can't hear things that you know you used to be able to hear, getting a hearing test is a good idea. However, it's not always easy to know when your hearing has diminished enough to see an audiologist.

You've turned the volume up on everything

One of the ways you might know if your hearing has deteriorated without your knowledge is if you have turned the volume up on your TV or other devices. Hearing loss can creep up on you, and you might not realize until you notice something like this. If you don't pick up on it yourself, someone you know might point it out to you. Think about what level you used to have the volume at to make it comfortable and consider whether you now tend to have it much higher. If you do, it could be a sign of hearing loss.

You find it difficult to keep up with conversation

If your hearing is worse than it once was, you can often notice that people speaking becomes one of the hardest things to hear. However, it isn't necessarily obvious right away. You might instead misinterpret what people are saying, get confused during conversations or even have headaches from trying to concentrate when someone is speaking. If you're finding it hard to follow along with conversations, especially in crowded places or places with lots of background noise, a hearing test will be able to help you determine if hearing loss could be the problem.

You haven't had a hearing test in a while

Many people don't ever remember having a hearing test, and might never have one if they don't notice a problem with their hearing. However, regular hearing tests are important to check on your hearing health. It's especially important as you get older, particularly for those over 50 years of age, but even younger people benefit from having their hearing tested. If you haven't had a hearing test in that last year or two or you can't remember ever having one, it might just be time to have your hearing tested.

A hearing test will check your hearing health and can be the first step to finding a solution to hearing loss. If you think you could benefit from this type of assessment, make an appointment with an audiologist as soon as possible.