So, every 6 months or so we all head off to the dentist to get our teeth properly cleaned and checked for any new cavities. Anyone who wears glasses will pop in to the opticians for regular eye tests to ensure nothing’s changed. Non-glasses wearers who begin to struggle with their sight will have no problem booking themselves in for an eye test. But if you stop and really think, have you ever even considered booking in for a hearing consultation? Unfortunately, our hearing is just something we all take for granted until it begins to fail us.
Considering that approximately 12 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss, you would think that hearing tests would be more prominent in society. However, a survey showed recently that an overwhelming majority of the county have never even had a hearing test since they were born. It is a fact of life that as we age, hearing problems are more likely to develop. If you’re now thinking ooops, I’m one of these people who’ve never been for a test, fear not, we are going to talk you through roughly how often you should consider having your hearing checked.
It’s time to get tested
An early indicator of hearing loss is if you have to keep turning up the volume on the TV or radio. The people around you may comment on how loud it is but for you it’s just fine. It is very easy to laugh this off as just another part of getting older but it is much more beneficial to treat a hearing loss early before it has chance to deteriorate further.
Another early sign is if you experience trouble hearing what people are saying to you in busy places, such as restaurants. If you’re continually asking people to repeat themselves or speak louder, it’s probably time you booked yourself in for a hearing test.
We should mention though, that there are lots and lots of different signs of hearing loss, and they don’t all begin when you are elderly. Some babies are born with hearing problems, and these will become evident when they start speaking.
How often should you have your hearing checked?
The first time most people will have had a hearing test is as a baby. It will depend on your age as to whether this test was offered when you were a baby but any baby’s born today are all offered routine hearing screening. Hearing is so important for the development of speech and language skills because if you can’t hear what those around you are saying, you won’t be able to develop your speech.
Generally, healthy adults should have a hearing test at least once every 10 years but once you reach 60, you should really consider having one every year. As we get older, the hairs in the inner ear which are responsible for transmitting sound waves further into the ear canal can become damaged. This obviously means that as you get older, you need to have your hearing checked more regularly. If you work in a noisy environment, and are younger than 60, you should consider having a hearing test every few years to ensure you haven’t suffered from any noise-related hearing damage.
A hearing test is entirely painless, very easy and quick to do. A hearing loss can become worse the longer it is left untreated, so the sooner you do something about it the better for your hearing health. If you would like to discuss our hearing consultation process further, or are interested in having your hearing checked, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
