Monitor Auditory Health With Regular Hearing Tests

Posted on

Do you remember the last time you had your hearing checked? For most people, the answer is sometime in elementary school.

It's easy to overlook the importance of regular hearing tests when you aren't experiencing any significant hearing loss. Unfortunately, waiting until you notice a difference in your ability to hear can cause you to miss out on opportunities to prevent permanent damage over time. You need to make the monitoring of your auditory health with regular hearing tests a part of your healthcare routine.

Start With a Baseline Test

One of the most important things that you can do when starting to monitor your auditory health is invest in a baseline test. The baseline test should be completed as soon as possible. Your doctor will use this baseline test as a template against which the results of future tests can be compared. A baseline test gives you a better chance of identifying significant changes in your hearing so that you can take action to help address auditory disruptions.

Schedule Regular Follow-Ups

Just as you schedule annual physical examinations with your family doctor, you need to schedule regular hearing tests with your audiologist. The length of time you can go between tests will depend on a number of factors. You will need to discuss your unique risk factors with your audiologists when creating a schedule for your hearing tests. If you are exposed to loud noises at work, you will probably need to be tested more often than someone who works in a quiet office environment.

Your age and genetic predisposition toward hearing problems can also affect the frequency of your hearing tests. Sticking to the schedule that you and your doctor create will help you take control over your hearing in the future.

Follow Your Doctor's Recommendations

After each of your hearing tests is complete, your audiologist will offer you some advice on maintaining your hearing. It's critical that you follow all of these recommendations if you want to avoid the acceleration of any hearing-related problems identified during your hearing test. Some common recommendations that your doctor might make include wearing advanced hearing protection at work or getting fitted for hearing aid devices.

Caring for your auditory health doesn't have to be difficult. Hearing tests only take a few minutes, but they can offer a lot of insight into the health of your hearing. Schedule a baseline test immediately so that you can start monitoring your auditory health more efficiently in the future.


Share