It isn’t like you simply wake up one day, and your hearing is gone. Hearing loss, especially when it’s related to aging, generally advances in degrees. Some signs appear earlier, though, and you don’t recognize there is an issue right away.
These early developing symptoms advance very discreetly. Recognizing them sooner is crucial to delay the progression of hearing loss or other health issues connected to aging. However, you can’t detect the signs if you have no clue what they are. You might be developing hearing loss if you notice any of the following eight barely detectable indicators.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Perhaps you can understand the cashier just fine, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a typical sign that the nerves that send signals to the brain are damaged (known as sensorineural hearing loss).
Her voice is a higher pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You may not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those tones are high, also.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
When the phone rings you often make excuses for not answering:
- It’s likely just spam
- I’m just not used to this brand new phone yet
You hate talking on the phone, but why? It will be a useful idea to get someone else to check the phone for you if the volume is all the way up and you still can’t hear what the other person is saying. You most likely have a hearing loss problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It seems as if it’s no longer only the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your partner, and even your bartender. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re probably dealing with hearing loss, because what is the probability of that? You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the first indications that your hearing is changing.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You might not even recognize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Often, the first people to detect that you’re developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. If somebody comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to ignore it. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Tinnitus can also be intermittent because triggers are a significant factor. For example, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only happens in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory problems, or high blood pressure could be the cause.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they might be an indication that you’re having a health problem.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable going to the neighborhood block party
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. It’s so much more difficult to make out what people are saying in noisy places. It becomes impossible for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC kicking in or youngsters splashing and playing in the pool. And trying to focus in on conversations is tedious.
7. You feel more worn out than normal
Struggling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain has to work harder to process what it can hear, so you are more tired than usual. You might even experience changes in your other senses. If your brain is using 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left over for your eyesight or balance? If your most recent eye test was normal, then the next thing to get tested is your ears.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
When you have to keep turning the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that old TV. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. How about the other things in the room such as the AC or the ceiling fan? Your hearing could be failing if you constantly turn the volume up.
The good news is, all it takes to know for certain is a professional hearing test and if it turns out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to make an appointment.
