Protecting Your Hearing: When to Get a Hearing Check
Hearing often changes gradually, so it can be easy to miss. Learn the common signs, how hearing checks work, and everyday ways to protect the hearing you have.
The short version
- Age-related hearing changes are common and often develop slowly over years.
- Asking people to repeat themselves or turning up the TV are common early signs.
- A hearing evaluation is quick and painless, and many options exist if you need help hearing.
In this guide
Hearing changes rarely happen overnight. More often, they creep in so gradually that family members notice before you do. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, age-related hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults.
Staying aware of your hearing matters because it affects how easily you can follow conversations, enjoy music and television, and stay connected with the people around you.
Common signs worth noticing
- You often ask people to repeat themselves.
- Conversations are hard to follow in restaurants or other noisy places.
- Others say the television or radio is too loud.
- Women's and children's voices seem harder to understand than deeper voices.
- You have trouble hearing on the phone.
- You hear ringing, buzzing or hissing in your ears.
- You feel tired after social gatherings because listening takes so much effort.
If several of these sound familiar, it is a good time to have your hearing checked.
How a hearing check works
A hearing evaluation is usually quick and painless. You might start by mentioning your concerns to your primary care doctor, who may look in your ears, check for earwax buildup and refer you to an audiologist or an ear, nose and throat specialist.
An audiologist typically has you sit in a quiet booth wearing headphones and respond when you hear tones at different pitches and volumes. You may also be asked to repeat words. The results are plotted on a chart called an audiogram, which shows what kinds of sounds you hear well and which are harder for you.
What happens next
If the evaluation shows hearing loss, the audiologist will explain the options. These may include:
- Hearing aids, which come in many styles. Since 2022, over-the-counter hearing aids have been available for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, alongside prescription devices fitted by a professional.
- Assistive listening devices, such as TV listening systems, amplified phones and captioned phones.
- Communication strategies, such as facing the person speaking and reducing background noise.
- Medical treatment for issues such as earwax buildup or infections, when that is the cause.
Coverage varies. Original Medicare does not cover routine hearing exams or hearing aids, although some Medicare Advantage plans offer hearing benefits. It is worth checking your plan's details.
Protecting the hearing you have
Turn down the volume. If someone next to you can hear the music from your earbuds, it is probably too loud.
Use ear protection. Foam earplugs or earmuffs help around lawn mowers, leaf blowers, power tools and loud events.
Give your ears a break after exposure to loud noise.
Do not use cotton swabs inside the ear canal. They can push wax deeper. Ask your doctor about safe ways to manage earwax.
Ask about medications. Some medicines can affect hearing. If you notice changes after starting a new medication, mention it to your doctor or pharmacist.
Tips for easier conversations
- Let people know you have trouble hearing and ask them to face you.
- Choose a quiet table away from the kitchen when eating out.
- Turn on captions when watching television.
- Ask for important details, such as appointment times, in writing.
Many people wait years before seeking help for hearing changes. Getting a baseline hearing test now, even if you are not sure there is a problem, makes it easier to track changes over time.
