Hearing is such an important part of navigating the world, but when it initially starts to fade people often don’t notice. It can be hard to decide whether or not you should get your hearing tested beyond the standard tests doctors do during checkups. There are many time periods or circumstances to specifically get your hearing checked, but you will find a few of the most common and important listed below.
As You Get Older
Hearing, like many senses, can change as you age and keeping track of those changes is important to your overall well-being. Some people feel embarrassed or nervous about losing their hearing, but it is nothing to feel self-conscious about. 15% of people in the world get tinnitus, a side effect of hearing loss. Getting your hearing tested as you age can help you to catch problems early and deal with them appropriately. Once you have tested your hearing you can make choices about your ear health and your hearing aids to help you feel more confident and comfortable with your hearing.
When You’re Exposed to Loud Noises at Work
Being exposed to loud noises on a regular basis can greatly impact your hearing. So if you work in an area or field that requires frequent exposure to loud noises, you may want to get your ears checked from time to time. Being exposed to loud noises at work is more common than you may think. In fact, about 22 million employees in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous noise levels. With that in mind, it is important to make sure that you take care of your ears and get them checked if your work might be negatively impacting them.
You’re Noticing Changes in Your Hearing
Sometimes nothing in particular happens, but you still begin noticing changes in your hearing. If that is happening, then it may be a good time for you to go get your hearing checked. Anytime your hearing changes it is worthwhile for you to do some investigation to see what is going on. Unchecked hearing loss accounts for $750 million annual global cost, so early identification can make a huge difference on medical bills in the future. After your hearing test you will have a better idea of what if any problems are present in your ears and you can work on improving your hearing.
Your ear health is an important part of your overall health, so you should do what you can to make sure yours are taken care of. The more you pay attention to your ears the easier it will be for you to spot a problem. If something seems off with your hearing, make sure to get a professional hearing test as soon as possible!
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