At what age should you get hearing tested? A Guide to Lifelong Hearing Health

According to the National Council on Aging, approximately one in three Americans experiences some form of hearing loss by age 65. Understanding at what age should you get hearing tested is a crucial step toward proactive health management and maintaining your quality of life.

Quick Summary

Adults should get a baseline hearing test in their mid-20s, with routine screenings every 3–10 years until age 50, increasing to annually thereafter. Individuals with risk factors, like loud noise exposure or a family history, should be tested more frequently.

Key Points

• Start Early: Get a baseline hearing test in your mid-20s, even if you have no symptoms, to establish a record of your healthy hearing.

• Frequency Increases with Age: Adults should have a hearing check every 3-10 years until age 50, then every 1-3 years, and annually after age 60.

• Annual Tests for High Risk: Anyone with frequent exposure to loud noise, a family history of hearing loss, or certain medical conditions should get tested annually.

• Pay Attention to Signs: If you notice symptoms like muffled speech, tinnitus, or needing to turn up the volume, see a specialist right away.

• Protect Your Hearing: Wear earplugs in noisy environments and manage volume on personal devices to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Why Regular Hearing Tests Are Crucial

Routine hearing tests are not just for those experiencing obvious hearing difficulties. Hearing loss often occurs gradually, and without a professional evaluation, many people adapt to subtle changes without realizing it. Regular testing establishes a baseline audiogram, which is a detailed map of your hearing ability. This allows an audiologist to monitor any changes over time, catching potential issues early before they significantly impact daily life.

Early detection and treatment of hearing loss have numerous benefits:

• Improved Communication: Addressing hearing loss makes it easier to follow conversations, especially in noisy environments, which can prevent social withdrawal and isolation.
• Enhanced Cognitive Function: Studies suggest that untreated hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia. Treating hearing loss can potentially mitigate this decline.
• Better Physical Health: Unaddressed hearing loss has been associated with a higher risk of falls and accidents, particularly in older adults.
• Reduced Mental Health Risks: Hearing loss can lead to frustration, anxiety, and depression. Early intervention can significantly improve mental and emotional well-being.

Recommended Hearing Test Schedule by Age Group

Newborns and Children

For most people, the journey of hearing health begins at birth. Newborns are routinely screened for hearing loss before leaving the hospital. School-age children are often screened periodically in school or during well-child checkups. It is important for parents to remain vigilant for signs of hearing issues as children grow.

Adults 18-40

For healthy adults with no noticeable symptoms, a baseline hearing test is recommended in your mid-20s, with subsequent screenings every three to ten years. This initial test provides a benchmark for all future comparisons.

Adults Over 50

Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, becomes increasingly common after age 50. Experts recommend increasing the frequency of hearing tests to every one to three years in this age range. This allows for more timely detection of age-related changes.

Seniors Over 60

By age 60, the risk of hearing loss significantly increases. Annual hearing exams are recommended for all adults over 60, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing symptoms.

Who Needs More Frequent Testing?

Some individuals have a higher risk of hearing damage and should undergo more frequent testing, potentially on an annual basis.

• Occupational Noise Exposure: Those working in consistently noisy environments like construction, manufacturing, or farming should be tested yearly.
• Recreational Noise Exposure: Individuals regularly exposed to loud noise from hobbies such as hunting, motorcycling, or attending concerts should also consider annual exams.
• Family History: A genetic predisposition to hearing loss increases your risk.
• Chronic Health Conditions: Certain health issues like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension can impact hearing.
• Ototoxic Medications: Some medications, including certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and even high doses of aspirin, can damage the inner ear.

Common Signs You Might Need a Hearing Test

If you experience any of the following, you should schedule a hearing test, regardless of your age:

• Difficulty understanding conversations, especially in background noise.
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
• Perceiving speech as muffled or people mumbling.
• Turning up the TV or radio volume to a level others find too loud.
• Experiencing tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in the ears).
• Feeling exhausted after a long conversation or social event (listening fatigue).

Understanding a Hearing Evaluation

A full hearing evaluation goes beyond a simple screening and involves a series of tests conducted by an audiologist:

1. Case History: The audiologist will ask questions about your health history, lifestyle, and any hearing-related concerns.
2. Otoscopy and Tympanometry: A visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum, followed by a test that measures the movement of the eardrum to detect blockages or fluid.
3. Pure-Tone Testing: You will wear headphones in a soundproof booth and signal when you hear tones of varying pitch and volume. This determines the softest sounds you can hear.
4. Speech Testing: You will be asked to repeat words spoken at different volumes and over background noise to assess your ability to understand speech.
5. Bone Conduction Testing: A device placed on the bone behind your ear sends vibrations directly to the inner ear, helping to distinguish between different types of hearing loss.

Protecting Your Hearing

Feature	Hearing Protection (Earplugs/Earmuffs)	Hearing Aids
Purpose	Prevent hearing damage from loud noise exposure.	Amplify sound to compensate for existing hearing loss.
Application	Worn in noisy environments (concerts, work, hobbies).	Worn daily, prescribed by an audiologist.
Key Function	Blocks or reduces sound from entering the ear.	Processes, amplifies, and delivers sound to the inner ear.
Target Issue	Noise-induced hearing loss prevention.	Sensorineural or mixed hearing loss management.

Healthy Habits for Lifelong Hearing Health

In addition to regular testing, there are several steps you can take to protect your hearing throughout your life:

• Wear Hearing Protection: Use earplugs or earmuffs whenever exposed to sounds louder than 85 decibels, such as at concerts, when using power tools, or mowing the lawn. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers comprehensive guidance on preventing noise-induced hearing loss.
• Lower the Volume: Keep the volume of personal listening devices, TVs, and car stereos at a moderate level.
• Manage Chronic Health Conditions: Proactively manage conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease that can affect hearing health.
• Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle: Regular exercise improves circulation, which benefits the small, delicate structures of the inner ear. A balanced diet rich in certain vitamins and minerals can also support hearing health.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking can impair circulation and harm hearing.

Conclusion

Taking proactive steps for hearing health, including understanding at what age should you get hearing tested, is a vital component of healthy aging. While the frequency of testing increases with age, early detection is key for everyone. By combining regular professional evaluations with good hearing protection habits, you can safeguard your hearing and maintain your overall wellness for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should you get a baseline hearing test?

It is recommended for adults to get a baseline hearing test in their mid-20s. This provides a benchmark for audiologists to compare against future tests, helping to detect subtle changes over time.

How often should adults over 60 get their hearing tested?

For individuals over the age of 60, annual hearing tests are strongly recommended. This frequent testing is crucial for detecting and managing age-related hearing loss as it progresses.

What are the main signs that indicate I need a hearing test?

Key signs include difficulty understanding conversations, especially in noisy places, asking others to repeat themselves often, needing to turn up the TV volume, hearing a ringing sound (tinnitus), or feeling withdrawn from social situations.

How do hearing tests for children differ from adults?

Newborns are screened shortly after birth, and children often receive periodic screenings at school. Unlike adults, a child's full evaluation might include tests like Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) or Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), which don't require the child to actively respond to sounds.

Can hearing loss be reversed?

Some types of hearing loss, like those caused by earwax buildup or ear infections, can be temporary and treatable. However, sensorineural hearing loss, which is common with aging or noise exposure, is often permanent. Early detection can help manage symptoms and prevent further deterioration.

What happens during a typical hearing evaluation?

A comprehensive hearing test usually involves a review of your health history, a visual check of your ears (otoscopy), and a series of tests in a soundproof booth. These tests assess how well you hear pure tones, recognize speech, and how your eardrum functions.

What is the most common cause of hearing loss in seniors?

The most common cause is age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis. It is a gradual loss of hearing that occurs as people get older due to natural wear and tear on the inner ear's sensory hair cells.