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The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends having a hearing screening at least every decade through age 50 and every 3 years after age 50. However, people who are frequently exposed to loud sounds, such as those who work with loud machinery and those whose work or recreational environments include loud music are, should receive a hearing evaluation more frequently. Ask your doctor how often you need your hearing checked.
As a guideline, you should visit your hearing healthcare professional immediately under the following circumstances:
• Hearing problems are persistent and unexplained
• Hearing problems adversely affect lifestyle
• There is an association with other symptoms such as ear pain
If you have a hearing loss, your hearing should be tested every year so that any changes in hearing can be documented. This is especially important if you wearing hearing aids since the hearing aids will need to be adjusted as your hearing loss changes.
If you are unsure whether or not you have a hearing loss,
consider the following questions:
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1) |
Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when you meet new people? |
2) |
Does a hearing problem cause you to feel frustrated when talking to members of your family? |
3) |
Do you have difficulty hearing when someone speaks in a whisper? |
4) |
Do you feel burdened by a hearing problem? |
5) |
Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when visiting friends, relatives or neighbors? |
6) |
Does a hearing problem cause you to attend large group situations less often than you would like? |
7) |
Does a hearing problem cause you to have arguments with family members? |
8) |
Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when listening to TV or radio? |
9) |
Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing limits or hampers your personal or social life? |
10) |
Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when in a restaurant with relatives or friends? |
| These questions are adapted from the HHIE-S, a tool widely used by hearing care professionals throughout the world for screening the affects of hearing loss on an individual's quality of life. |
If you answered "yes" or "sometimes" to one of these questions, you should consider having a hearing evaluation performed by your House Ear Clinic hearing care professional to discuss the degree of potential hearing loss and methods you can use to help prevent further hearing loss.
If you answered "yes or "sometimes" to two or more of these questions, we strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment for a hearing evaluation with your House Ear Clinic hearing care professional to determine the degree and cause of your potential hearing loss.
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