Spring is the perfect time to give your hearing aids a proper clean - and if you haven’t already scheduled your annual hearing test for 2025, it’s a great reminder to do so. Just like seasonal maintenance around the home, checking in on your hearing health helps ensure everything is working as it should and prevents small issues from becoming bigger challenges.
For adults over 45, hearing tests are recommended every three to five years, even in the absence of noticeable symptoms. That frequency increases for individuals who have already been diagnosed with hearing loss or use hearing aids. Kim Galick, owner and registered hearing instrument specialist at Ears Hearing Clinic in Langley, recommends an annual hearing check-up for those wearing devices.
“Regular testing helps us fine-tune your hearing aids and catch any changes early,” Kim says. “Hearing loss often happens gradually, so people don’t always notice the difference until they hear clearly again. Once they do, they realize just how much they’ve been missing.”
Spotting the early signs of hearing loss can make a big difference in treatment and overall quality of life. Some of the most common red flags include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
- Difficulty following conversations, especially in noisy environments.
- Turning the volume up on the TV or radio higher than others prefer.
- Avoiding social situations due to frustration or fatigue from trying to hear.
- Feeling like people are mumbling or speaking unclearly.
- Trouble hearing higher-pitched sounds, such as birds or children’s voices.
- Persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus).
“Hearing loss affects more than just the ears - it impacts how we connect with loved ones, how we engage socially, and how much we enjoy everyday moments,” Kim explains. “While there’s no cure for hearing loss, hearing aids can dramatically improve your ability to communicate and participate in life.”
Ears Hearing Clinic in Langley offers free hearing assessments to help you take the first step. Book yours online today! Visit Ears Hearing Clinic at Unit C 20568 56 Ave. in Langley, find more information at earslangley.com, and follow them on Facebook.
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