You may regularly go for dental and vision checkups or test your blood pressure and cholesterol, but how often should you get your hearing tested?

鈥淚t鈥檚 a good idea to get a baseline hearing test at age 55, and then schedule routine tests every two years. Age related hearing loss is so gradual that it can be easy to miss unless you test regularly. If your practitioner detects hearing loss, you should continue to test every year,鈥� says Kim Galick, owner of in 91原创.

How hearing tests help

Identifying hearing loss and taking efforts to improve your hearing loss helps preserve your brain鈥檚 ability to receive and interpret sound. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for your brain to adapt.

鈥淭he sooner you can detect hearing loss, the more time you鈥檒l have to budget for hearing aids, and the faster you鈥檒l get them working for you. It takes time for the brain to adapt to the sound that comes from hearing aids, so the sooner and more consistently you use them, the more benefits you鈥檒l experience,鈥� Kim says.

If you think you have hearing loss, you can make an appointment with a Hearing Healthcare Practitioner like Kim Galick. If your hearing seems to drop suddenly or rapidly over a span of one or two days, you should seek emergency medical attention immediately at your nearest emergency department.

You can make an appointment directly with a Hearing Healthcare Practitioner without a referral. Hearing consultations at Ears Hearing Clinic are free. If you鈥檝e had previous hearing tests, bring those results with you. They can help determine if your hearing has changed or remained stable.

When to get a hearing test

Hearing tests help identify the type of hearing loss you may have. They test how well you can hear sounds that reach the inner ear through the ear canal, and also measure sounds that are spread through the skull. Depending on the cause, hearing loss can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. It鈥檚 essential to understand what type of hearing loss you鈥檙e experiencing before pursuing treatment.

• Hearing tests for children: Sometimes speech, behaviour and learning problems in children are related to problems with hearing, so children should have their hearing tested during routine pediatric checkups. Many schools also provide hearing tests.
• High risk for hearing loss? Test often: People routinely exposed to loud noises (in excess of 85 decibels) and those taking certain medications are at a higher risk of hearing loss and should schedule hearing loss screening once a year or if you notice a change in your hearing.
• Age related hearing loss: In older adults, hearing loss is often mistaken for cognitive decline. A loved one may not engage in conversation or misunderstand speech, which is why regular hearing tests over age 55 are recommended.
• Keep testing, even if you wear hearing aids: Once you鈥檙e fitted with hearing aids, you should continue to have your hearing tested as recommended by your Hearing Healthcare Practitioner. For most people, hearing loss is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time.

鈥淵our hearing aids need to be tested regularly too! A slight adjustment may make a big improvement to your hearing, or it might be time for a new device. The lifespan of most hearing aids is about three to seven years, and technology is always improving,鈥� Kim says.

For a free hearing consultation and more hearing advice, call Kim Galick at , 604-427-2828 or email info@earslangley.com. Find Ears Hearing at in 91原创, online at and on .