Do you have hearing loss? You may and may not even know it. Hearing loss can happen suddenly when exposed to a very loud noise or due to impact to the head. However, in most instances it occurs slowly over time. This allows your brain to adapt to the loss and compensate for it. However, even if your brain has rationalized the loss, it doesn’t mean it’s not impacting your life. Unaddressed hearing loss can cause strains on the relationships across your life, contribute to chronic depression, increase loneliness, the likeliness of cognitive decline and a risk of falls leading to hospitalization. The first step in addressing hearing loss is being able to diagnose it. Here are few common signs that you may have hearing loss
Troubles Hearing Over the Phone
It is common to struggle to hear over the phone, especially when there are background noises around. The good news is that most cell and landline phones are equipped with a volume control setting. If you find that you have turned the volume all the way up and you are still struggling to hear, it could signal a hearing loss. It may be an issue with the connection, but if the problem persists, its time to schedule a hearing exam
Issues Following a Conversation When People are Speaking at the Same Time.
When hearing loss sets in, not only does it affect our ability to hear sounds. It affects our ability to process multiple incoming and competing signals at once. If you are feeling overwhelmed and lost during group conversations, it could mean it’s time to contact us as soon as possible
You Turn the Volume of the TV all the Way Up.
You may have the volume of the TV turned all the way up, which can lead to issues with the other people you watch with. Relaxing movie or TV time, turns into a source of nightly arguments over the volume of the TV. It may seem fine to you but irritate your family or viewing partners. Avoid the conflict by addressing a potential hearing loss now.
Conversations make You feel Tired
Whether your hearing loss is diagnosed or not, it can be exhausting to fill in the missing parts of words and sentences. Have you in the past considered yourself a social person but now find social situations exhausting? It could be due to listening fatigue brought on by hearing loss.
You Struggle to Hear in Noisy Environments
You may have always loved going to restaurants and parties, but recently it’s become so hard to hear when multiple conversations are happening at once, that you find yourself enjoying these social events. It’s common for people with hearing loss to have problems masking out background noise and focusing on speech. If this is you, it can’t hurt to reach out to us today.
You Ask People To Repeat Themselves
Do you find that you have to ask people to repeat themselves more often than not? It may seem like some people just mumble or don’t speak up. Certain voices may have higher tones, making them hard to hear when you have age related or noise induced hearing loss. If “what?” is becoming the most commonly used word in your vocabulary, it’s time to schedule a hearing exam
Misunderstanding are Becoming Frequent.
Certain sounds are harder to hear than others when you struggle with hearing loss. Consonants can be confused, such as “f,th,s, d,c,b”. This can lead you to make mistakes and people may have started to notice. You may mishear addresses, ending up at the wrong meeting spot, or find yourself missing other important parts of information daily. This can impact your performance and success at work and build resentment at home. The important thing to understand is that it doesn’t have to keep going this way. If you feel like hearing loss is affecting your life with your loved ones, and career, you can make a choice to address your hearing loss now.
Addressing Hearing Loss
Most forms of hearing loss are irreversible, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be treated. The most common treatment is hearing aids, which amplify the sounds you struggle with. This holiday, make the choice to connect with friends and family. Reach out today and schedule a hearing exam!
