Hearing Test: Why the Fall Season is the Best Time to Get Checked

Hearing loss and other associated hearing health issues, such as tinnitus, are common health problems several Americans face. An effective way to avoid these issues is by taking hearing tests. Hearing tests are carried out by an audiologist to carefully evaluate the sensitivity of your hearing. Using an audiometer, an audiologist tests your hearing at different frequencies to determine its health. Through these tests, your audiologist can provide effective solutions to treat or prevent a problem from developing.

Several factors can affect your hearing health. These include excessive exposure to loud noise, infections, nutritional deficiencies, impacted earwax or trauma to the ear or head. Another rather surprising factor that affects hearing health is the weather. Studies have shown that colder months, especially the fall season, contribute to the decline of one’s hearing health. So, how does the weather affect the ears? And why is the fall season the best time to get your hearing checked? Read on to learn why.

How Does the Weather Affect Your Hearing?

Surprisingly, there are several reasons why the weather can affect your hearing. One reason, according to research, is the temperature. Experts have noted that the chances of developing a ringing sensation in the ear or even hearing loss increase as the temperature drops. This is because of the condition known as exostosis. Constant exposure to the cold cause’s abnormal growth in the ear canal, known as exostosis.

This occurs as the body tries to provide a layering to protect the ear from the elements of the cold weather. Exostosis is a condition usually found in people who do not adequately protect their ears from the cold. Extremely cold weather also affects your hearing as it usually tends to harden earwax, leading to blockage. Blockage in your ear can cause earaches, tinnitus, dizziness and infections. Most importantly, ear blockage can cause reduced hearing.

Why is the Fall Season the Best Time to Get a Hearing Test?

During the fall, your ears are exposed to several factors that could affect your hearing health. Therefore, to understand why you need a hearing test during this season, you must first know what you will likely experience. On that note, here are some hearing issues you are more susceptible to in the fall.

Seasonal Allergies

During the cold season, your body may absorb various irritants, causing it to produce histamine to fight it off. However, for some people, the increase in histamines does more harm than good, causing the body to fight off the histamines. This chemical or biological issue is what is portrayed as an allergic reaction. This could be through coughing, sneezing, itchy throat or skin. It also affects the ear in a number of ways.

For instance, seasonal allergies can cause earaches, which can be cause hearing loss for a short period. Additionally, the production of histamines causes an increase in mucus in the body. This gets to the middle ear, blocking the clear transmission of sound.

Ear Infections

Another factor that could increase your chances of hearing issues during the fall is the likelihood of ear infections. Ear infections occur due to exposure to bacteria due to moisture trapped in the nose or throat. An infection causes a build-up of fluid in the middle ear, which can be found between the eardrum and the nerve responsible for transmitting sounds. This limits the movement of bones of the middle ear, causing difficulty in converting electrical pulses into sound waves for the brain to perceive.

Earwax Buildup

Earwax buildup is one of the most common factors to affect one’s hearing health. In the colder months, the likelihood of earwax buildup is much higher. This is because, as a defensive and protective mechanism, your body produces more earwax to protect the ear against the cold. The longer your ears are exposed to the cold, the more wax you produce and the harder it gets. The hardened wax blocks the ear canal, affecting your hearing ability.

Due to these factors, taking a hearing test during the fall season is advisable. If you’re experiencing any of these factors, be sure to contact a reputable audiologist to determine the state of your hearing health for the right treatment or advice to ensure good hearing health during the colder months.

Contact Heights Audiology & Hearing Aids Today

When taking a hearing test, you want to ensure that you use the services of a reputable and reliable audiologist. Fortunately, you are in the right place, as you would receive this and more from our audiologists at Heights Audiology & Hearing Aids. Contact us today to scheudule an appointment at (713) 234-1460.