Are Hearing Tests in My 50s Really Necessary?

I’m not old; why on earth would I need a hearing test? 

You’re still in your 50s, in the prime of life, and hearing problems only affect people in their 70s and older, right? 

In reality, over 60 million American adults below the age of 69 are exposed to damaging noise levels at work, and close to 18 million experience hearing damage from noise not related to their occupation.

I used this statistic from the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders (NIDCD) in my blog last month, but I want to use it again because it demonstrates the importance of early and regular hearing tests.  

Most people assume that hearing challenges only affect the elderly, but you can no longer assume that to be the case. In a noisy world that is full of ototoxic chemicals and the capacity to blast music, videos, and video games directly into our ears, the lives affected by hearing loss are becoming increasingly younger each year. 

Fortunately, I don’t provide personalized hearing care only to individuals in a certain age bracket. Regardless of age, hearing assessments are one of the most important tools I have available to identify and overcome hearing loss. 

What Are the Benefits of a Hearing Test? 

Before I provide a list of the benefits of a hearing test, let’s take a quick look at what happens when hearing loss remains untreated. 

While you are putting off getting the help you need (the average wait is seven years), your condition continues to worsen. Along with an increased loss of hearing, many with hearing loss begin to experience vertigo and balance disorders as well as cognitive decline. 

All of these are preventable if addressed in time! 

Having your hearing tested, whether you are experiencing the symptoms of hearing loss or not, is a positive, proactive step to ensure better hearing and an improved quality of life as you age by: 

• Establishing a baseline number against which we can monitor changes to your hearing 

• Allowing you to take proactive, preventative measures to protect your hearing against environmental and noise damage 

• Making sure you know when it is time to get the help you need from hearing aids and can monitor how well they are performing 

• Allowing you to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to cognitive decline and other issues related to your mental health 

So, what’s holding you back? 

The Hearing Aid Stigma 

It’s okay to admit that you believe that problems with your hearing only happen when you get old. Those with hearing challenges are seen as being old and broken. Hearing loss, especially needing hearing aids, has a huge negative stigma attached to it, and that is likely one of the reasons (if not the only reason) why you are putting off having a hearing test. 

I see hearing challenges in a different light. You have lived a life full of wonderful experiences, some of them a bit too loud, and I want to make sure you continue to enjoy thousands more by providing you with personalized hearing care. 

Because of this stigma, many of my patients come in for a hearing assessment feeling doomed to a life of mediocrity, but they leave feeling confident about their hearing, themselves, and their futures.  

What Does a Hearing Assessment Look Like? 

I begin a hearing assessment with a conversation about your health history, family history, occupation, hobbies, and social activities. It’s a lot of fun to get to know more about you, but our conversation also helps me identify the risk factors for hearing loss that you are exposed to. 

I will follow up our conversation with a physical examination of your ears. I’m looking to see if your ear canal is blocked by a bug or debris, earwax, a growth, or inflammation as I assess the structural integrity of your ears and eardrums.  

The physical examination of your ears will be followed by a series of tests designed to identify the type and severity of any hearing loss you might be experiencing, including testing how well you can process speech in a noisy environment. 

After testing, I will show you your test results, explain what they mean, provide solutions to prevent any additional damage, and discuss the various options available to help you achieve better hearing. 

Become Proactive About Your Hearing Health 

If you are over the age of 50, I highly recommend that you begin to have hearing wellness tests every couple of years.