It is generally recommended that adults aged 50 or older have a baseline hearing evaluation. Regardless of your age, though, you should have a diagnostic hearing test if you are experiencing problems hearing and understanding speech. If a hearing loss is identified, you should monitor your hearing through periodic re-evaluation. How often the testing is repeated depends on the individual’s overall health, listening environment and communication status.

For example, an individual who has diabetes or kidney disease, or who works in a noisy factory, might need annual testing. If any change in hearing or speech understanding is noticed, re-evaluation is recommended. You should discuss your specific testing needs with your audiologist.