According to one recent survey, nearly 30% of people have gone more than ten years without getting a hearing test. One of those people is Sofia. She goes to her yearly doctor’s appointments, she sees a dentist every six months, and she gets the oil changed in her car every 3000 miles. But she hasn’t had a hearing exam in a long time.

Hearing tests are essential for a wide variety of reasons, finding initial symptoms of hearing loss is probably the most essential one. Knowing how often she should get a hearing test will help Sofia keep her ears (and hearing) as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

How Often Each Year Should my Hearing Get Tested?

If the last time Sofia had a hearing test was a decade ago, we could be concerned. Or perhaps it doesn’t phase us. Our reaction, and the reaction of her hearing specialist, most likely will vary depending on her age. That’s because hearing professionals have different guidelines based on age.

• If you are older than fifty: The standard suggestion is that anyone older than fifty should undergo hearing checks every year. Hearing loss is more liable to impact your life as you get older because noise damage begins to add up. Plus, there are other health concerns that can impact your hearing.
• At least every three years, it’s suggested that you get a hearing test. There’s no harm in having your ears checked more frequently, of course! The bare minimum is every three years. You should absolutely get examined more often if you are frequently in a noisy setting. There’s no reason not to do it, it’s painless and simple.

As far as your hearing is concerned, more often is definitely better. Since you last had a hearing test, you might have new damage you should know about, so more frequent hearing tests may be practical.

You Should Get Your Hearing Checked if You Notice These Signs

Of course, your yearly (or semi-annual) hearing exam isn’t the only good time to make an appointment with a hearing specialist. Occasionally, you begin to notice some signs of hearing loss. And in those circumstances, it’s usually a good idea to immediately contact a hearing professional and schedule a hearing exam.

Some of the signs that might prompt you to get a hearing test could include:

• Sounds seem muffled; it starts to sound as though you constantly have water in your ears.
• When you’re in a loud situation, you have trouble hearing conversations.
• Having a tough time making out consonants (generally, consonants are spoken in a higher pitch than vowels, and it’s those high-frequency sounds that are often the first to go as hearing loss takes hold)
• Continually asking people to slow down or repeat themselves during a conversation.
• Having a very difficult time understanding people when talking on the phone, any phone.
• Listening to your favorite music at excessively high volumes.

When these warning signs start to accumulate, it’s a strong indication that the perfect time to get a hearing exam is right now. You need to recognize what’s going on with your hearing and that means getting a hearing test sooner rather than later.

Hearing Tests, What Are The Benefits?

Sophia may be late for her hearing exam for several reasons. Maybe she hasn’t considered it. Possibly thinking about it is something she is just avoiding. But getting your hearing tested on the recommended schedule has concrete advantages.

Even when your hearing is completely healthy, a hearing test can help set a standard reading, which makes deviations in the future easier to detect. You can safeguard your hearing better if you detect it before it becomes a problem.

That’s the reason why Sophia has to go to her regular hearing exams before any permanent impairment happens. Early detection by a hearing examination can help your hearing stay healthy for a long time. It’s important to consider how hearing loss will affect your total health.