First of all it’s never a bad idea to get a hearing test, even if you don’t think you’re having any problems hearing. A baseline assessment of your hearing can always be used as a comparison years from now when you’re sure you have a problem.
Signs You Might Need a Hearing Test
Your significant other has started to mention that you might be having some problems hearing, your kids have noticed, even your closest friends are wondering about your ability to hear. Here are a few signs that it might be time to get a hearing test.
- You have a problem hearing over the telephone
- When you set the volume on the TV it’s too loud for everyone else.
- The turn signal on the car is on and you can’t hear the sound it makes.
- You have trouble hearing when there’s background noise.
- You have trouble hearing women and children speaking more than when men speak.
What Might Cause a Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss happens for different reasons. Many people lose their hearing slowly as they age. This condition is known as presbycusis. Doctors do not know why presbycusis affects some people more than others, but it seems to run in families. Another reason for hearing loss with aging may be years of exposure to loud noise. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss. Many construction workers, farmers, musicians and people in the military may have hearing problems even in their younger and middle years because of too much exposure to loud noise. Hearing loss can also be caused by viral or bacterial infections, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medicines.
Results of the Hearing Test
We’ll provide you with a detailed explanation of the results of the hearing test. If we find a problem, we’ll provide you with recommendations. It’s also possible that we won’t find any problem at all. In that case (as a reminder) the hearing test will serve as a baseline against which future hearing test results can be compared.