It’s not like you simply wake up one day, and your hearing is gone. For most individuals, hearing loss progresses in degrees, particularly when it is linked to the aging process. You might not detect it’s taking place right away but some signs do appear earlier.
These early developing symptoms advance very discreetly. Delaying the progression of hearing loss and its related health problems is a matter of early detection. However, you’re unable to recognize the signs if you have no clue what they are. Consider these eight barely detectable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe you can understand the cashier just fine, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets messed up. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is not as clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You might have the same issue with your grandchild or daughter. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
When the phone rings you tend to make excuses for not answering:
- It’s most likely just spam
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m simply not used to it yet
You hate talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume at max and can’t understand what is being said, let someone else test the phone for you. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are probably the problem.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It used to be just the kids, but lately, the woman on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your partner all seem like they are mumbling when they talk to you. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re probably dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? How you hear words is changing. One of the first signs that something is going on with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are dropping off.
4. What?
It might not be until somebody points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Frequently the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to notice that you’re struggling to hear. You should definitely pay attention if someone says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle indication, but it is something individuals tend to ignore unless it’s disruptive. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are a substantial factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. For instance, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only manifests in the morning or when you are tired. Or, it could also be an indication of high blood pressure, circulatory issues, or trauma.
It’s essential that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something might be wrong, so you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. Joining your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as fun
Once again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. It’s so much harder to make out what people are saying in noisy settings. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re around something as simple as the AC kicking in or youngsters splashing and playing in the pool. And, you always feel exhausted from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You feel more tired than normal
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. Your brain has to work overtime to process what it can hear, so you are more tired than normal. Your other senses may even begin to change. How much energy is left for eyesight, for instance, if your brain is using so much of its energy trying to hear and understand words? If your eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to get your ears assessed.
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 blame your service provider or that out-dated TV. When you’re experiencing hearing loss it’s difficult to follow along with dialog on your favorite shows. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. There are other things such as the room AC or ceiling fan to deal with. If you keep cranking up the volume, then your hearing could be failing.
Luckily, if your hearing is failing, hearing aids can help, you just need to get a hearing test.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to make an appointment.
