Hearing experts recommend that everyone get a baseline hearing test around age 50. While hearing loss is often associated with older age, it commonly begins earlier and can progress quietly for years. A hearing test at 50 helps detect changes early, when treatment options are most effective. It also creates a clear baseline, so future changes are easier to track. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline, depression, and increased fall risk. About one in four adults aged 50 to 65 already experiences some degree of hearing loss. After 50, testing every two to three years is recommended, with more frequent checkups after 65.