How Often Should You Have a Hearing Test?

If you wear glasses, you probably get your vision checked every year to two. You get a physical each year from the family doctor and see the dentist at least once a year for an exam. But how often do you get your hearing tested? The frequency of your hearing tests depends on your age, your occupation and other risk factors.

Children

Newborns in the U.S. have their first hearing test in the hospital before they even come home. 

Toddlers should have a hearing screening by the pediatrician at the age of two or three. This screening is a simple pass/fail test to determine if the child might have hearing loss. If the screening indicates possible hearing loss, the child then has a complete hearing test from a pediatric audiologist.

Young children should have an additional hearing screening before they start school.  Any child with delayed speech development, learning disabilities or problems with speech should have a hearing test. 

School-age children may receive a hearing screening at school. If not, the pediatricians should perform a hearing screening as part of an annual preschool check-up.

Adults to age 50

Adults should have their hearing screened at least once every 10 years. More frequent screenings are necessary if there is job exposure to noise (construction, factories, manufacturing, bars), noisy hobbies (working with power tools, ATV riding) or use of ototoxic drugs. Even if protective devices are worn at work, hearing should be checked annually. Musicians should also have annual hearing screenings up to age 50.

Hearing test at 50

At age 50, everyone should have a complete hearing exam. The incidence of hearing loss increases with age and unfortunately. many people live with hearing loss for five or more years before it is detected. Hearing loss is so gradual, you may not realize it is happening to you.

After the age of 50

After the age of 50, have a hearing screening every year and a complete hearing test every three years. If friends or family are difficult to understand when they speak or complain that you listen to the TV or radio too loudly, get a hearing test right away.

If you wear hearing aids

If you wear hearing aids, get them checked twice a year and have your hearing checked every three years. As your hearing changes, the program settings on your hearing aids will need to be changed too.