It isn’t like you simply wake up one day, and your hearing is gone. Hearing loss, especially when it’s related to aging, usually progresses in degrees. You may not recognize it’s happening right away but some signs do appear earlier.
These early developing symptoms advance very subtly. Slowing down the progression of hearing loss and its related health challenges is a matter of early detection. However, you can’t recognize the signs if you have no clue what they are. Consider these eight barely noticeable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is a higher pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You may have the same issue with your grandchild or daughter. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can become a problem. Those tones are high, also.
2. You avoid phone conversations
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t answer the phone when it rings:
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
- It’s most likely just spam
You hate talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume at max and can’t hear what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. You probably have a hearing loss problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It seems like it’s no longer just the kids who are mumbling when they talk, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your spouse, and even your bartender. It’s hard to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has bad enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing loss. The way you hear words is changing. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial signs that your hearing is going through changes.
4. What?
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. Frequently, the first people to notice you are developing hearing loss are the people you see on a daily basis, like family and coworkers. You should certainly pay attention if somebody says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something individuals tend to ignore unless it’s disruptive. Tinnitus, the medical term for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss.
Tinnitus can also be intermittent because triggers are a significant factor. Maybe, when you first get up in the morning is when you have the most pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a sign of high blood pressure, circulatory problems, or trauma.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they could be an indication that you’re having a health issue.
6. It’s not as enjoyable going to the neighborhood get-together
Once again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as basic as youngsters playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it extremely tough to hear anything. And attempting to focus in on conversations is tedious.
7. You’re normally not this exhausted
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 fatigued than usual. You might even experience differences in your other senses. How much energy is left over for eyesight, for instance, if your brain is spending so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to have your ears checked.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
It’s easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you need to keep cranking up the volume. When you have hearing loss it’s hard to hear dialog on your favorite shows. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. There are other things such as the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. If you keep cranking the volume up, then your hearing could be failing.
The good thing is, if your hearing is failing, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
