When it comes to treating hearing loss, hearing tests are an important step towards assessing and diagnosing the extent of hearing impairment. Hearing tests can help in detecting conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, relief from tinnitus, SSD, and other hearing-related concerns. It is important to test your hearing regularly to eliminate the risk of developing severe hearing problems in the future.
People are often unsure as to when to get their hearing tested. Since hearing loss is a gradual process, it is difficult to identify the actual time of initiation of the hearing loss symptoms until they are noticeable. Even so, if you identify any of the symptoms listed below, you may be developing a hearing impairment and it might be time for you to book an appointment with an audiologist.
- Are you experiencing a constant ringing in your ears that is not resulting from any external stimuli? This may be a symptom of tinnitus.
- Do you have trouble following conversations?
- Do you constantly have to ask others to speak loudly or to repeat themselves?
- Do you have trouble holding conversations in crowded, loud environmental settings?
- Do you feel tired as a result of straining yourself to hear what others are saying?
- Do you feel irritated or tensed due to your inability to hear things clearly?
- Do you constantly need to turn up the volume on your television?
- Do you have trouble having conversations over the telephone?
- Do you feel like people are constantly mumbling?
- Do you prefer to listen to people from one side of your head than the other?
Medical factors also need to be put into consideration when determining whether to obtain a hearing test:
- Have your ears sustained any injury or damage?
- Have you undergone any physical injury to your head?
- Have you had a bacterial or viral ear infection?
- Have you taken any ototoxic medicines?
- Do you have any thyroid or circulatory condition?
- Is hearing loss common in your family?
- Have you had prolonged exposure to loud noises or sudden loud noises, such as explosions?
If you feel you have any of the symptoms listed above, get into the habit of testing your hearing routinely. Consider getting a hearing assessment to create a baseline test that can be compared and contrasted with further hearing tests that you conduct to note any changes in your hearing and detect hearing loss in its early stages. The frequency of your required hearing tests will be determined by your audiologist, based on your age and medical condition.