How Often Should You Get a Hearing Test in Marietta, GA?

Adults with no risk factors should have a hearing test every three to five years, and annually once they are over 60 or have noise exposure, family history, or medication-related risks. American Family Hearing Aid Center in Marietta, GA offers comprehensive hearing evaluations for all ages, with no referral required. Schedule yours today.

Why Regular Hearing Tests Matter More Than Most People Realize

Hearing loss is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed health conditions in the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have some degree of hearing loss, yet the average person waits seven to ten years after first noticing a change before seeking evaluation. That delay has real consequences.

Untreated hearing loss is associated with social isolation, cognitive decline, depression, and a reduced quality of life. Yet the condition often progresses so gradually that people adapt around it without realizing how much they are missing. By the time hearing loss becomes impossible to ignore, it has often been present for years. A comprehensive hearing evaluation at American Family Hearing Aid Center is the only way to know for certain where your hearing stands.

Regular hearing evaluations at American Family Hearing Aid Center in Marietta catch changes early, before they affect daily life in significant ways, and give patients time to make informed decisions about their hearing health.

Recommended Hearing Test Frequency by Age

Newborns: Universal newborn hearing screening is conducted before hospital discharge. Early identification of hearing loss in infants is critical for speech and language development.

Ages 3 to 11: Hearing screenings are typically included in routine well-child visits. Any concerns from parents or teachers about listening, attention, or speech should prompt a comprehensive evaluation.

Ages 12 to 18: Teens are at increasing risk from noise exposure through earbuds and concert attendance. Annual screenings are recommended for teens with these exposures.

Ages 18 to 49: Adults with no risk factors can typically follow a hearing test schedule of every three to five years. Adults with occupational noise exposure, a family history of hearing loss, or regular use of ototoxic medications should be evaluated more frequently.

Ages 50 to 59: A baseline comprehensive hearing evaluation is strongly recommended by age 50, even for those with no symptoms. Testing every two to three years is generally advised in this decade. Schedule your baseline evaluation at American Family Hearing Aid Center.

Ages 60 and older: Annual hearing evaluations are recommended. Hearing loss accelerates with age, and changes can happen quickly. Annual testing also allows for timely adjustments to hearing aids for patients who already wear them.

Risk Factors That Warrant More Frequent Testing

Certain individuals should be tested more frequently regardless of age. If any of the following apply, annual hearing evaluations are advisable:

Occupational noise exposure from manufacturing, construction, military service, agriculture, or entertainment. Regular use of ototoxic medications including some chemotherapy drugs, certain antibiotics, and high-dose aspirin. A family history of hearing loss. A history of ear infections, surgeries, or trauma. Any experience of tinnitus, ear fullness, or sudden hearing changes.

If you are unsure whether your situation calls for more frequent testing, the team at American Family Hearing Aid Center can help you assess your individual risk and recommend an appropriate evaluation schedule.

What Happens During a Hearing Test

A comprehensive hearing evaluation at American Family Hearing Aid Center begins with a case history review. The provider will ask about your medical history, noise exposure, any symptoms you have noticed, and your communication concerns.

Next, the ear canals are examined visually to check for earwax buildup, infections, or other physical conditions that could affect hearing or need to be addressed before testing. This brief examination can also identify earwax impaction that may be contributing to hearing difficulty.

The hearing test itself involves listening to tones through headphones at various frequencies and volumes and indicating when you hear them. Speech recognition testing may also be conducted to evaluate how clearly you can understand words at different volumes. The results are plotted on an audiogram, which the provider reviews with you in detail along with any recommended next steps.

Signs You Should Not Wait for Your Next Scheduled Test

Between scheduled evaluations, pay attention to changes that suggest you should schedule a sooner appointment. These include asking people to repeat themselves frequently, difficulty hearing in background noise, turning the television volume up higher than other household members prefer, or missing parts of conversations in quiet settings.

Sudden hearing loss or a rapid change in hearing ability should be treated as a medical urgency. Contact American Family Hearing Aid Center promptly if you experience a sudden drop in hearing, as early intervention significantly improves outcomes in these cases.

Scheduling a Hearing Test in Marietta

American Family Hearing Aid Center has served Marietta and the surrounding communities since 2018. The Marietta location offers comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, repair services, ear cleaning, and tinnitus consultations. No physician referral is required to schedule a hearing test.

Read what patients are saying on the reviews page, or contact the team to schedule your hearing evaluation today.

Frequently Asked Questions