When was the last time you had your hearing tested? While many people know that they need a health check each year, and a trip to the dentist a couple of times a year, many people are less sure about how often hearing tests are required.

Your hearing is one of your most vital senses, as it performs so many functions. Your hearing can alert you to approaching danger, help you to communicate with others and maintains your awareness of your surroundings. Hearing clearly helps in every aspect of your life, from being at work to socializing with friends, through to watching the TV or chatting to family members. To ensure that your ability to hear stays at the best level possible, it is crucial to take care of it, and part of taking care of your hearing is through having regular hearing tests.

Get a regular hearing test

Just as you schedule in a regular vision test to keep up with changes to your sight, you also need to do the same for your hearing. Detecting hearing loss early is essential, as early detection can help to prevent a further decline in your ability to hear. Even if you are not experiencing any hearing loss, it is still important to attend regular hearing tests, just as you would for your vision appointments.

Typically, adults should schedule themselves a hearing test once every three years, to check on their hearing and to ensure early detection of any hearing-related issues. Older adults, aged 50 years and over, may be advised to visit the audiologist for a hearing test more frequently than this. The reason for more regular screenings for the over 50’s is the fact that older adults are more likely to experience hearing loss.

Children usually have a hearing test carried out shortly after birth, as part of their newborn health screening. The infant health screening includes several different checks, with the hearing test being just one part of this. 

As children get older and start school, they usually have their hearing tested at various points during their time in education. For many people, school is the last time that their hearing was tested. It is vital to get your hearing checked again after leaving school instead of just waiting until you notice a decline in your hearing. It is a wise idea to get your hearing check after leaving school, while you are a younger adult, even if you are not experiencing any type of hearing loss. The reason a hearing test is essential for younger adults is that it provides a baseline for your hearing. The results of any subsequent hearing tests that you have can then be compared to this baseline to detect any changes that have occurred with your hearing. The baseline results are a useful indicator for detecting hearing loss when it is at an early stage.

Noticing changes to your hearing

Getting a regular hearing test performed by a qualified audiologist every few years is vital, but sometimes you may notice a decline in your hearing between scheduled appointments. Maybe you are finding it more difficult to follow conversations, or perhaps you need to turn up the volume higher than usual on the TV. If you have noticed changes in your hearing or are experiencing unfamiliar sensations such as ringing in your ears, it is crucial to schedule an appointment right away, instead of waiting for your next planned visit to the audiologist. 

Acting quickly ensures that the audiologist can test your hearing and identify the causes of the changes that you are experiencing. Based on the results of your hearing test, your audiologist will then be able to make recommendations on the best course of action. 

Your hearing is something that should never be taken for granted, and here at Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids, we take your hearing seriously. Whether you are due a regular hearing test or you have noticed a loss in your hearing ability, we can help. At Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids, we use the latest diagnostic equipment to provide hearing tests that deliver accurate results. Our family-owned hearing center is passionate about delivering the best service to improve the quality of life for our patients.

If you are looking for an audiologist in Sioux Falls, call Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids today to schedule your appointment and find out more about the audiology and hearing services that we provide. Call us at (605) 610-3466, and we will be happy to help.