Most people are accustomed to making regular checkups a routine part of their medical care. Annual physicals, dental exams and vision tests are all commonplace. Fewer individuals pay as much attention to their hearing tests, however. It\u2019s not that they intentionally neglect their hearing; many are simply unaware of how often they should have their hearing tested, and the number of physicians recommending routine hearing evaluations is small.<\/p>\n
When and how often you should get your hearing checked depends on several\u00a0factors. Do you suspect you have hearing loss<\/a>? Or do you already have documented hearing loss?<\/p>\n Your age and job occupation\u00a0are other big\u00a0factors.<\/p>\n You have to get your hearing tested if:<\/p>\n Testing<\/em>\u00a0is conducted when you, a loved one, or your healthcare provider suspect you have hearing loss because you’re experiencing\u00a0hearing loss symptoms. Testing involves sitting in a sound-treated booth and having your hearing levels measured, which are then plotted on an audiogram. This kind of test is often referred to by professionals as a “comprehensive hearing exam.”<\/p>\n Screening<\/em>\u00a0is usually done when you don’t have any obvious symptoms of hearing loss. Screening is usually faster and less complicated than testing, such as answering a questionnaire, like our\u00a0online hearing test. If you are exposed to high noise levels on the job, you are often required to participate in a screening program to check your hearing ability.<\/p>\n\n
Testing vs. screening for hearing loss<\/h3>\n