5 Reasons to Take an Annual Hearing Test

Some people can get by with infrequent hearing tests. If you are a young adult, the last hearing test you had might have been as a child in school. Hearing tests are just like any other health exam that you get at your annual physical. Some are necessary for you, based on your personal characteristics, and others can be put off until a later time. In the case of your annual physical, your primary care physician will determine what tests are necessary for you at any given time. However, you might be wondering how you know when the time comes for a hearing test. Not everyone needs to take an annual test, but here are some of the factors that mean you should schedule your exam and continue on an annual basis going forward. 

Establish a Baseline

When you begin getting annual hearing tests, we will have a baseline measure of your hearing ability. Even if you do not have hearing loss, these tests are good measures to determine when changes occur. We like to have baseline exams to notice any sudden or precipitous changes, as well. We recommend that anyone over the age of 60 begin to get annual hearing tests, simply to set the baseline for future changes. Those who know they are exposed to noise in the workplace or who have noticed a change in hearing ability should also begin annual tests right away.

Early Diagnosis

If you have developed hearing loss, an annual test is an essential way to notice when changes occur. The sooner you get a diagnosis of your needs, the better able you will be to get treatment before a chain reaction of negative effects occurs. If you are in the habit of getting annual hearing tests, then not a single year will go by between the time you need hearing aids and when you put them into use. 

Prevent Related Problems

Untreated hearing loss is related to a wide range of other problems for physical health, mental health, cognition, and relationships, so getting treatment as soon as possible can promote your ongoing wellbeing. If you delay getting hearing aids, you can put yourself at risk of serious health issues. For instance, hearing loss has a strong relationship with dementia, significantly raising the risk for those who do not have hearing aids in place. If you can get hearing aids as soon as you need them, you can reduce this additional risk of health conditions such as dementia. 

Health Warnings

Not only can you prevent health issues by getting treatment for hearing loss as soon as it is necessary, but a diagnosis of hearing loss can even serve as a warning sign of some other health issues. If you find out in a diagnostic exam that you have hearing loss, you can communicate this information with your primary care physician. They can use this diagnosis to raise concern for other related issues, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, or gout, as well. Each of those conditions has higher risk among those who have hearing loss, so the warning can be a life-saving piece of information. 

Ongoing Support

Once you receive hearing aids, your annual tests should not stop. Although some people find that their hearing loss plateaus when they receive hearing aids, some hearing loss continues to be degenerative over time. If your hearing needs change, you might need more advanced assistance, as well. Some hearing aids are best suited to those with mild or moderate hearing loss, while those with severe or profound hearing loss have a different set of needs in assistive technology. Ongoing support is based on our ongoing knowledge of your hearing condition, so don’t hesitate to schedule another hearing test if it has been over a year since the last one. Our hearing health professionals are here to provide the test, interpret the results, and put you in touch with the right assistive resources to meet your needs. Don’t delay making an appointment for your hearing test if any of these five reasons resonate with you. The test is quick and easy, and you can rest assured you are in good hands after you get the diagnosis.