Your hearing won’t be simply gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss happens in degrees, particularly when it is related to the aging process. Some indicators show up earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is a problem right away.
The early symptoms of progressive hearing loss are subtle. Slowing down the progression of hearing loss and its related health problems is a matter of early detection. However, you’re unable to detect the signs if you have no clue what they are. Contemplate these eight barely noticeable indicators that you might have hearing loss.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe you can hear the cashier just fine, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets messed up. It’s a typical sign that the nerves that send messages to the brain are damaged (known as sensorineural hearing loss).
Her voice is less clear to you because the pitch is higher. You might have the same issue with your grandchild or daughter. Even higher pitched tones like the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those tones are high, too.
2. You avoid phone calls
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not picking it up:
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m just not used to it yet
- I get tons of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
Consider why you dislike using your phone. 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 likely the problem.
3. Why is everybody mumbling?
It seems as if it’s no longer just the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news lady, your partner, and even your bartender. If it seems as if everyone 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. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial indications that your hearing is going through changes.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You might not even realize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Frequently, the first people to detect you are developing hearing loss are the people you see on a daily basis, like family and coworkers. If somebody comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
This sign is a bit more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to disregard it. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Tinnitus can also be periodic because triggers are a significant factor. For instance, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only manifests in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory problems, or high blood pressure may be the cause.
It’s essential that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something might be wrong, so you should make an appointment right away to get checked out.
6. It’s not as enjoyable attending the neighborhood get-together
Once again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. It’s so much more difficult to understand what people are saying in noisy places. Something as simple as kids playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it impossible to hear anything. And, you always feel exhausted from trying to keep up with conversations.
7. You’re normally not this fatigued
Battling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain has to work harder to process what it can hear, so you are more fatigued than normal. You might even notice differences in your other senses. How much energy is left over for eyesight, for example, if your brain is spending 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 on your TV up, it becomes all too easy to blame your service provider or that out-dated TV. When you’re experiencing hearing loss it’s hard to hear dialog on your favorite shows. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. How about the other stuff in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? Your hearing may be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
The good thing is, if your hearing is declining, hearing aids can help, you just need to get a hearing test.
Contact us today to make an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve experienced any of the above signs.
