How Often Should You Get a Hearing Test? A Guide for Adults
Your hearing can change gradually, which means you may not always notice a difference straight away. You might turn the television up slightly louder, ask people to repeat themselves or find busy conversations more tiring.
This leads to an important question: how often should you get a hearing test?
There is no single schedule that applies to every adult. Your hearing needs can depend on your age, previous hearing history, noise exposure and whether you have noticed any changes.
Why Are Regular Hearing Checks Important?
Hearing is closely connected to everyday communication. Being able to understand conversations helps you stay connected with family, friends and colleagues.
A professional hearing check gives you a clearer understanding of your current hearing ability. If you have previous results, future assessments can also help identify changes over time.
Regular monitoring can be especially useful if you have existing hearing difficulties or regularly spend time in noisy environments.
How Often Should Adults Have Their Hearing Checked?
The ideal hearing test frequency varies from person to person.
If you have no hearing concerns, you may not need frequent assessments. However, if you notice a change in your hearing, it makes sense to seek professional advice rather than waiting for communication difficulties to become more significant.
Consider arranging a hearing check if:
- You frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
- Conversations are difficult in busy places.
- You regularly increase the volume on your television.
- You have noticed a change in one or both ears.
- You have a history of hearing difficulties.
- You regularly work around loud noise.
Does Your Age Matter?
Age can be associated with hearing changes, but hearing difficulties are not limited to older adults.
Regular exposure to loud noise and other factors can also contribute to changes in hearing.
This is why there is no need to wait for a particular age before paying attention to your hearing. Your symptoms, circumstances and communication needs are more important.
What Happens During a Regular Hearing Check?
A professional assessment begins by discussing your hearing history and concerns.
Your audiologist may then carry out a range of tests to measure how you hear different frequencies and speech. Depending on your needs, this may include speech-in-noise testing and other assessments.
Better Hearing Co.’s comprehensive hearing assessment service includes hearing history, otoscopy, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, speech testing and a listening needs assessment.
The results are then explained clearly so you understand what they mean.
What If Your Hearing Changes?
If an assessment identifies a hearing change, the next step depends on your individual circumstances.
Some people may benefit from monitoring or communication strategies. Others may benefit from hearing technology.
If hearing aids are appropriate, Better Hearing Co. provides hearing aid selection, fitting and ongoing care to help people use their devices comfortably and effectively.
Should You Have a Hearing Test If You Have No Symptoms?
If you have no concerns, you may not feel an immediate need for an assessment. However, knowing your current hearing levels can provide useful information, particularly if you have a history of noise exposure or hearing problems.
The important thing is to avoid ignoring noticeable changes.
If family members are regularly telling you that you are not hearing clearly, that can also be a useful reason to arrange an assessment.
How Can You Look After Your Hearing?
Protecting your ears from excessive noise is an important part of hearing health. Pay attention to environments where sounds are uncomfortably loud and give your ears appropriate breaks.
It is also useful to seek professional advice if you notice persistent changes rather than trying to diagnose the cause yourself.
When Should You Book?
There is no need to wait until hearing problems become severe.
If you are noticing changes, struggling with conversations or simply have concerns about your hearing, speaking with an audiologist can help you understand what is happening.
Better Hearing Co. provides independent, personalised hearing care in Christchurch. Book an appointment to discuss your hearing concerns and find out whether an assessment is appropriate for you.
