Signs You Should Get a Hearing Test

It’s not always easy to hear what others say to you, and it’s especially true if you are dealing with reduced hearing abilities. We live in a time where we are spending less time chatting to others face to face and more time talking online. This has diminished our speech as a race, and we’re then ignoring the signs that we need hearing tests. 

Did you know that poor hearing could be linked to other health issues like dementia, depression and isolation? Knowing when to get your hearing tested by an audiologist is important but so is knowing the signs of needing one in the first place. Getting a baseline test as an adult is a smart way to know whether you’re going to need hearing aids in later life.

Hearing loss is very often not a sudden thing; it’s gradual over time. It’s why you might one day wake up and not realize why you can’t hear very well. It’s also possible that a lifetime of loud music and loud lawnmowers mean that you don't even notice until someone points out to you that they’ve repeated themselves a few times and you haven't heard them. You might not know there is a problem, but if you get a hearing test booked you can ensure that you are on top of any hearing issues you’re having. 

If you notice that you have tinnitus, then the best thing that you can do is get checked. There are different types of hearing loss.

Sensorineural

This hearing loss is common with noise exposure over time or with aging. It involves the tiny cells in the inner ear being damaged. They stop sending the right signals to the brain, and this means that you won’t hear certain frequencies and pitches. Your ability to hear speech may not be as clear and it can be harder to hear in busy environments, too. You would find that this hearing loss type often requires hearing aids.

Conductive

This is where the problems are lying in the ability for sound to get to the inner ear. The sound is blocked somehow, and this can be caused by earwax or an infection. A hearing test with an audiologist will be able to identify this for you and this is a medically treatable hearing loss. An audiologist will be able to help you.

Mixed

This is a mix of the two types already discussed. Not only do you have a medical blockage, but you have damaged hair cells and the sound is no longer carried to the brain.

Signs You Should Get a Hearing Test

If you’ve noticed that your hearing isn't performing as well as it did before, then a hearing test is in order. Some of the signs that you need a hearing test include:

• You’re unable to hear the TV or music even at a very high volume.
• You’re avoiding answering the telephone because you can’t make out clear speech while you’re on it. 
• You no longer go out with your friends because you can’t hear conversations in crowded environments.
• You feel isolated and alone because you are embarrassed about repeating yourself or asking others to repeat themselves, too. 
• You’re leaning in closer and concentrating harder on people talking to you because you can no longer hear them during a normal conversation 

When you go to your audiologist, they will perform a range of different hearing tests to see the extent of the hearing loss and the root causes behind it, too. They’ll see you through headset hearing tests as well as tests that involve bone conduction devices. This will help them to see which type of hearing loss you’re dealing with. They may also do a speech test, which will help to determine how much you can hear during speech. This gives a good picture about how your ears are working and after all these tests are done, they’ll talk you through the results! 

If you are looking to book into a professional audiology clinic, the best thing that you can do today is call Gavin Audiology and Hearing Aids at (914) 610-3440. We will be more than happy to book you in with an expert for extensive hearing testing today. We’re listening!