Hearing loss is commonly associated with aging, but it can occur at any age. 26 million people between the ages of 20 and 69 have hearing loss, and half of all adults over the age of 75 have hearing loss. Because incidence rates of hearing loss rise with every decade of life, the way you monitor your hearing health must evolve as you age.
Young Adulthood to Mid-Adulthood
For adults aged 18 to 40, noise-induced hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss, and cases are on the rise. Noisy work environments, high-tech headphones, construction sites, power tools and many popular hobbies can all reach hazardous noise levels, and in our modern world, we may take these sound levels for granted and not fully appreciate how loud they are.
As a result, we recommend that adults aged 18 to 40 have their hearing tested every 5 years. You may consider having your hearing tested more often if you work in a noisy industry or have hobbies or a lifestyle that exposes you to loud noise, such as hunting or playing music.
Starting at Age 40
If you’ve reached 40 and haven’t had a hearing test yet, now is the time to do so. Natural age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, can appear as early as 40 years old in some people. It’s time to start monitoring for it.
Even if you don’t think you have any symptoms of hearing loss at this time, age 40 is a great opportunity to establish a hearing health baseline. As you grow older, you can use your age-40 hearing test results as a reference point for any changes. Once your baseline is established, we recommend coming in every five years for a retest.
Starting at Age 50
If, during your forties, no changes in your hearing health were detected relative to your baseline, you can keep coming in every five years. However, if there were any changes, even minute ones that may not warrant hearing loss treatment yet, then it’s time to bring the frequency of testing down to three years.
Starting at Age 70
An estimated 64% of adults aged 71 and older have some degree of hearing loss, and this prevalence only increases with each decade of life. Because hearing loss becomes so prevalent at this life stage, we recommend getting your hearing tested every year.
It’s important to remember that presbycusis is a natural part of aging, and as discussed, happens to almost everyone. Caring for your body as you age should include considering hearing loss.
Other Considerations
You and your health care team may deem it necessary to get your hearing tested more frequently than we’ve outlined above due to extraneous conditions, such as:
- Family history of hearing loss
- Genetic factors that are correlated with hearing loss
- Other health conditions that are correlated with hearing loss
- Taking ototoxic medications
- Work in a noisy environment (e.g., mining, construction, manufacturing)
In these cases, monitoring your hearing health is a critical part of your overall health care. Follow the guidelines of your healthcare team.
If it’s time for you to start a hearing test cycle and get proactive about your hearing health, call us at Gulf Coast Audiology today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test. We’re honored to go on this journey with you.