Hearing loss often starts out subtly. You may dismiss your need for people to repeat themselves as them mumbling or background noise. But as you think about this moment, a question arises: Am I losing my hearing? It will be easier to recognize whether your own hearing is changing by understanding the sounds that accompany hearing loss.
The soft sounds of conductive hearing loss
For many people, conductive hearing loss manifests as sounds that seem softer than they once did. You may not even realize that you’ve been turning the volume of the television up or that your friends and family regularly ask you to “speak up”.
Here are some things you may hear:
- Needing people to speak up
- The volume of sounds seem lower than they used to
- Difficulty hearing in loud settings, where background noise overwhelms softer sounds
Conductive hearing loss frequently makes everyday sounds seem far off or muffled.
The distorted sounds of sensorineural hearing loss
Besides becoming softer, sounds will often also be distorted for someone who has sensorineural hearing loss. It’s challenging to differentiate between similar sounds making conversations problematic.
What you may hear:
- Speech that seems muddled or distorted
- The sensation of hearing some sounds while others fade into the background
- Misunderstandings because you can’t distinguish vowels from consonants
This distorted speech can cause you to misinterpret important details without even realizing it, which can produce barriers in communication and frustration.
Tinnitus symptoms
Hearing loss frequently comes with tinnitus symptoms. It usually manifests as phantom sounds that aren’t really there, which can cause actual sounds to be even harder to hear.
What you may hear:
- Sounds like ocean waves, chirping crickets, or whooshing wind
- Buzzing or static noises
- Internal hissing or ringing sounds in your ears
Tinnitus symptoms can manifest in lots of ways and can significantly impact quality of life.
Identifying the sounds of changing hearing
Hearing loss can be a slow process, and recognizing the sounds connected with it is essential for early intervention. It’s probably time to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation if you find yourself having trouble following along with conversations or needing people to frequently repeat what they said.
When is it time for a hearing exam?
It’s important to make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment if you are noticing tinnitus symptoms or any indications of hearing loss. Consulting with us can offer clarity on your condition and guide you toward appropriate treatment solutions. Your quality of life can be substantially improved by understanding what hearing loss sounds like. Don’t wait to get help; your hearing health is important.
Call us today to schedule your hearing test.
