Your hearing won’t be simply gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, especially when it’s caused by aging, generally progresses in degrees. You might not detect it’s taking place immediately but some signs do show up earlier.
These initially developing symptoms advance very discreetly. Slowing down the development of hearing loss and its related health problems is a matter of early detection. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. Contemplate these eight barely detectable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Perhaps you can hear the cashier perfectly, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets messed up. It’s a typical sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical signals 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 higher pitched tones like the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those tones are high, also.
2. You avoid phone calls
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not answering:
- I’m just not used to this new phone yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
You dread talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume at max and can’t hear what is being said, let someone else test the phone for you. You most likely have a hearing loss problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everybody mumble these days?
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’re mumbling when they speak with you. It’s hard to imagine that everyone in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing loss. 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 may not even realize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until someone points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Frequently the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to observe you are struggling to hear. If someone 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 distraction, people tend to disregard it. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
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 issues, or trauma.
It’s essential that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something might be wrong, so you should make an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. It isn’t as fun going to the neighborhood get-together
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. It’s so much more difficult to make out 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 extremely tough to hear anything. And trying to focus in on conversations is tedious.
7. You’re usually not this fatigued
Struggling to understand words is draining. Your brain has to work harder to process what it can hear, so you are more tired than usual. Your other senses might even begin to change. 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 last eye exam was normal, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
It is easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you have to keep cranking up the volume. It can be hard to hear the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. What about the other things in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep turning the volume up, then your hearing could be failing.
Luckily, if your hearing is declining, hearing aids can help, you just need to get a hearing test.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
