Keeping up with regular hearing checks – the importance of tuning into your health

Our hearing is a vital part of how we experience the world, but it’s easy to take it for granted. Regular hearing checks are essential for maintaining not just our auditory health but our overall wellbeing. Let's explore why staying on top of your hearing checks can help catch potential issues early and ensure timely treatment.

What is a hearing check?

A simple hearing check can be a helpful starting point to see whether you have hearing loss. These are 10 minute tests that can be performed by a variety of practitioners such as audiologists, nurses and GPs. They’ll examine your ear canal with an otoscope and identify any problems that may affect the hearing test results, such as build-up of ear wax or burst eardrum. Depending on the practitioner, you may do a ‘tone test’ wearing headphones or a speech test. If the practitioner finds a hearing loss, they’ll recommend you have a full diagnostic hearing test.

A full diagnostic test is conducted by an audiologist or audiometrist and can help reveal more complex hearing issues, so that you can get advice or treatment. These take up to an hour and usually involve multiple tests that check how different parts of your hearing are functioning.

Where to go for a hearing check

It’s easy to get a hearing check from a range of places – including your local audiology clinic, GP, medical centre, pharmacy or even some universities! Simple hearing checks tend to be free but full diagnostic assessments can cost anywhere from $59–$140 depending on complexity.

Hearing checks for children

For our littlest listeners, finding hearing problems early is important so it doesn’t impact their learning and development. In New Zealand every child should have their hearing screened at their B4 School Check, however, early detection is key. If you notice your child struggling to hear or follow instructions, take them to get a check or talk to your GP. Ear pain and concerns about hearing are one of the most common reasons parents take their young children to a health professional.

Hearing checks for adults

As we juggle work, family, and social life, it's important for adults to not overlook their hearing health. It’s recommended that adults get a hearing check every 10 years. However, you should get your hearing checked sooner if you:

• Frequently need to ask others to repeat themselves
• Struggle to follow conversations or misinterpret speech in groups or noisy environments
• Feel tired after extended listening or conversations
• Find yourself needing to move closer to someone speaking or rely on lip-reading to understand them
• Need to turn up the TV volume to listen comfortably

Catching these issues early allows for timely intervention and preventing further deterioration.

Hearing checks for 60+

As we get older, our hearing becomes less sensitive and our risk of health conditions inevitably increases. While sudden hearing loss is much more obvious, hearing problems normally develop gradually, making them harder to recognise. That’s why it’s recommended that those aged 60+ get their hearing checked every year.

Presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss, is the most common cause of hearing loss with about a third of people over the age of 65 experiencing the condition. In many cases, presbycusis can be managed with hearing aids that are fitted by an audiologist and customised to each person. Hearing aids cost upwards of $1,500 but you may be eligible for public funding from the Ministry of Health.

nib's guide to health checks

At nib, we’re passionate about taking a proactive approach to health and wellbeing. Hearing checks are just one of the important routine screenings we need to keep up with, alongside eye tests, dental check-ups, cancer screenings and more. We’ve summarised which health checks are needed at each stage of life in our Warrant of Wellness – making it easier for you to take a preventative approach today and safeguard your future health.

Check it out here: https://www.nib.co.nz/documents/warrantofwellness.pdf