How Often Should You Have Your Hearing Tested?

Hearing loss often goes unnoticed until damage becomes severe, yielding significant impacts on communication, social interactions, and even mental health. Fortunately, hearing examinations allow you to detect and address the early signs of hearing loss before they become problematic.

In this article, our experts at The Hearing Associates of Las Vegas delve into the importance of hearing tests, including how often you should get them and what to expect during the evaluation process.

Understanding the Importance of Hearing Assessment

Hearing is the cornerstone of conversation, allowing you to foster social and professional relationships. However, our hearing undergoes changes and damage as we age, stemming from a variety of factors, from excessive noise exposure to chronic health conditions. 

This impairment typically progresses gradually, making it difficult to recognize without a professional evaluation. When neglected, this damage can progress into more severe hearing loss, severely impeding your communication and, consequently, your overall quality of life.

Because hearing loss is typically irreversible, hearing evaluations are crucial to identifying these subtle changes before they become problematic. These quick tests allow you to understand your current hearing abilities and any necessary treatment or lifestyle changes to preserve your hearing as you age.

Determining Your Frequency of Hearing Examinations

The frequency at which one should undergo hearing examinations varies based on age, exposure to risk factors, and any existing hearing concerns. For instance, children are recommended to have hearing screenings as newborns, with additional tests at 3 years of age and again before they start school, ensuring any issues are caught early to support language development. Depending on the results of these examinations, your audiologist will recommend how often you should schedule hearing evaluations.

In general, adults up to 50 years old without significant risk factors should aim for a hearing test every three to five years. However, individuals over the age of 50, or with increased risk factors, should consider an annual assessment to ensure any hearing loss is identified and managed as quickly and effectively as possible. These increased risk factors include:

• Regular Exposure to Loud Noises: Individuals with frequent exposure to loud sounds, such as concertgoers and construction workers, are at higher risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
• Pre-Existing Hearing Impairment: Individuals with hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive listening devices should seek regular hearing evaluations to ensure their devices are sufficiently accommodating for their hearing loss.
• Family History of Hearing Loss: Individuals with genetic predispositions to hearing loss should seek more frequent evaluation.
• Frequent Use of Ototoxic Medications: Otoxic medications, such as some antibiotics and NSAIDs, can damage the sensory cells in the inner ear, increasing the risk of hearing loss.
• Underlying Health Conditions: Some conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, can restrict blood circulation, raising your risk of hearing loss.

Beyond regular evaluations, it’s important to consult an audiologist if you experience any sudden changes in your hearing, persistent ringing in your ears, or difficulty following conversations. By staying on top of your hearing health, you can catch issues early on and, in many cases, prevent further damage. 

Navigating the Hearing Assessment Process

The process of a hearing evaluation is simple and comprehensive, designed to thoroughly assess your hearing capabilities and identify any issues. The hearing assessment process begins with scheduling an appointment with your local audiologist. 

At this appointment, your audiologist will recommend the necessary tests to assess your hearing. Oftentimes, this will involve different types of tests based on the individual’s needs and difficulties:

• Pure-tone test: Assesses the quietest tones you can hear at different frequencies, helping to identify the range and nature of hearing loss. 
• Speech test: Evaluates your ability to recognize speech at different volumes and in noise, providing insight into how hearing loss affects communication. 
• Middle ear test: Checks the health of the eardrum and the middle ear space, identifying issues like fluid in the ear or ear drum perforations. 
• Auditory Brainstem Response test: Measures your nerve’s response to sounds, offering information on the pathways’ ability to transmit sound from the ear to the brain. 

These tests are quick and painless, providing invaluable insight into your hearing ability. With this data, your audiologist can develop any necessary treatment plans, which may include lifestyle changes, hearing aids, or other interventions. These proactive measures can allow you to preserve your current hearing ability or even regain access to the world of sounds. 

Getting Started with Your Hearing Evaluation

If you are overdue for a hearing evaluation, or recognize any difficulties in hearing, it’s important to schedule an examination as soon as possible. To get started with your hearing evaluation, contact our experts at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas. 

With years of experience diagnosing and treating various hearing disorders, our team is ready to help you preserve your hearing ability. Call us at 520-278-5139 or visit our contact page to begin your journey to clear communication.