Whether you are a teenager who spends most of their time with their headphones on their ears or an adult who spends most of the time in the workplace, hearing loss appears gradually. Because our brains constantly work to help us hear the sound, we might not even notice the signs or understand we need a hearing test. Whether you notice the signs or not, any adult (18 years or above) should get a hearing test done every 10 years. Similarly, people with the age of 50+ should get it every three years. If you are in Montreal, you should consult visiting Audiologie Centre West Island as they can help you in get a hearing test done.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH) has provided a checklist to recognize the signs that you need a hearing test. If you answer “yes” to three or more questions given below, you should see a professional.
- Do you have trouble hearing your friends or family in a restaurant?
- Do you feel frustrated because you cannot hear your family members properly when talking to them?
- Do you struggle to hear your colleagues, clients, or people at work when they are talking to you?
- Do you struggle with hearing during movies in theatres?
- Do you hear TV or music at a noise that is too loud for others?
- Do you struggle to hear when you are visiting your friends, families, or anyone?
- Do you feel restricted due to your hearing problems?
- Does your hearing problem lead to arguments with your family or loved ones?
Signs to understand when you need a hearing aid
Besides the checklist given above, pay attention to the signs below.
- You are experiencing ringing sensations in your ear. This is known as tinnitus.
- You speak too loudly, and often, people complain about it.
- You are asking people to repeat themselves too often because you failed to hear them properly.
- You cannot hear the other person clearly even if they are close to you speaking, especially in noisy places.
- You experience pain or pressure in your ear.
- People around you are noticing differences in your hearing ability.
What to do if these signs look applicable to you?
If you see yourself in the signs above, it is time to speak to a professional. You can consider speaking to audiologists who can help you identify which type of hearing tests you would need based on your symptoms. Getting a hearing test checks your ability to hear sounds of different loudness and pitch.
