Many times patients of all ages will ask me, when should I have my hearing checked? This is a great question!

Although most patients say their last hearing check was 20 years ago or more, and usually when they were in grade school, hearing is vastly important to our overall health. This is why, hearing should be checked more often. Various national guidelines may differ slightly on their recommendations as well as guidance from your primary care provider or other health care practitioner.

My recommendation is every five years if you are below the age of 65. If you notice a hearing reduction, then make your appointment sooner. A sudden change in your hearing, and I do mean SUDDEN, is a medical emergency, and you should seek immediate care. If you notice gradual, but rapid change in the past 90 days, you would also want to seek care as soon as possible to check your hearing, and overall ear status. Sudden and rapid changes can be due to impacted ear wax, a viral attack to the the ear, fluid in the ear, etc. Last, but certainly not least, remember that an annual visit to your primary provider may provide you with a professional look in the ear. However, a professional look in the ear is not a hearing exam, and does not give information on how well you hear.

For those who are 65+, a hearing assessment is recommended annually to obtain a baseline understanding of hearing status. The reason for this recommendation is because as we get older, the probability for hearing loss becomes greater. Risks for hearing loss may also be greater if there are other health conditions at play. Caring for our hearing is caring for our brain. And so as we get older, it becomes more and more essential to keep our brain healthy by keeping tabs on all our senses and ability to connect with our world. Hearing well contributes significantly to our overall good health, as well as, decreases risk of falls, risk of depression, and risk to personal safety. Hearing well also plays a huge role in our cognitive abilities, including memory health, and has been found to increase overall economical success at work, social health, and overall wellness. Those with Medicare are entitled to an annual hearing exam and my services do include a verification of benefits at no cost to you.

Still not sure if now is the right time to have your hearing checked? Call Dr. Srour and discuss your thoughts!