Listen up! Four Reasons Why YOU Should Have a Hearing Test

Are you experiencing a constant ringing in your ears? Maybe you struggle to follow a telephone conversation or are constantly asking people to repeat themselves. Perhaps you work in a noisy environment or can’t hear high-pitched noises. You might not even know you have a hearing loss problem, which is why so many adults who don’t experience obvious symptoms often overlook the health of their hearing.

Surprisingly, hearing problems can start as early as the teenage years. Having a hearing test now helps you to take better care of your hearing and wellness today, plus protect it for the future as you get older.

Who should have a hearing test?

A hearing test is not only necessary if you have a hearing problem. It’s more like a screening which can actually help reveal numerous medical and physical issues you might not have even been aware of, especially if you don’t notice any warning signs.

You don’t have to wait until you are 65 or older to have a hearing test. Your hearing keeps your brain fit, so being able to hear is vital to remembering and processing information. Everyone can benefit from having their hearing tested, the sooner the better. Your future self with thank you for it!

How often should I have a hearing test?

A routine hearing test is recommended every few years:

·       Children benefit from regular hearing testing to identify any potential issues throughout their development, particularly if there were any concerns at birth.

·       Under 60s should have a hearing test every three to five years.

·       Over 60s should have a hearing test annually as their risk of hearing loss starts increasing exponentially.

Why should I have a hearing test?

Having a regular hearing test helps you to:

1.   Recognise possible risk

Just like you would test your eyes regularly and monitor any changes in your vision, a hearing specialist can do the same by testing your ears. They can compare each new audiogram to your previous one and identify any changes or dangers to your hearing, even if it’s due to ear wax build-up.

Noise-induced hearing loss is another potential danger, and the increasing excessive use of earphones and other loud audio technology is causing people to need hearing aids sooner.

2.   Discover health concern

Aging is a common cause of most forms of hearing loss, but a hearing test can also diagnose an underlying serious medical condition. Perhaps you have high blood pressure or have developed type two diabetes.

A hearing test may reveal a condition you weren’t aware of that has affected your hearing. It’s helpful to then know how to manage this more effectively with the appropriate medication, lifestyle changes and support. 

3.   Stop greater damage

Hearing loss ranges from mild and moderate to severe and profound. The greater your loss of hearing, the greater impact it can have on your quality of life. By the time an audiologist diagnoses a person’s hearing loss, it can often be too late. The earlier you catch hearing loss, the more you can do to change the outcome and prevent greater damage.

The longer a hearing problem is left to progress, you have far more at stake than just your hearing. It’s not unusual for patients with hearing loss to become depressed, socially anxious, or withdraw due to their auditory limitations. Elderly people with hearing problems are particularly more prone to falling and injuries as they can’t hear traffic noise, house or smoke alarms, or other sounds indicating danger.

4.   Begin effective treatment

When it comes to the health of your hearing, prevention or early detection really is better than cure! If you have an underlying medical condition, you can begin effective treatment to slow down the damage to your body.

Should a hearing test indicate you have a mild hearing problem, you can stop it from becoming worse. Thankfully, most hearing loss can be treated immediately by fitting a hearing aid, and there are various options available that can match your lifestyle while also helping to improve your condition.

Where can I have a hearing test?

Spec-Savers is now a supplier* of free hearing screenings and offers everything you need for improved hearing. If you’d like a check-up, have any concerns about your hearing or are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, book a hearing screening with one of our audiologists now.

Give yourself the best possible quality of life by addressing any issues with a hearing specialist so that you’re equipped with an action plan to treat these effectively and the confidence that you’ll enjoy many years of beautiful sounds to come.

* The selected Spec-Savers branches offering this service include Spec-Savers Garden Route Mall, Spec-Savers Centurion, Spec-Savers Tygervalley, Spec-Savers Somerset Mall, Spec-Savers Cape Gate, Spec-Savers Diamond Pavilion, Spec-Savers Cresta, Spec-Savers Canal Walk, Spec-Savers Gezina, Spec-Savers Keywest, Spec-Savers Kempton Park, Spec-Savers Walmer Park, Spec-Savers Nelspruit and Spec-Savers Kolonnade.