It isn’t like you simply wake up one day, and suddenly can’t hear. For most individuals, hearing loss progresses in degrees, especially when it is linked to the aging process. You may not recognize it’s taking place right away but some signs do appear earlier.
These early developing symptoms progress very subtly. Delaying the development of hearing loss and its associated 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. You might be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely noticeable indicators.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe when you speak with your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife speaks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is higher in 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 are also high pitched tones.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t answer the phone when it rings:
- I get tons of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
- I’m simply not used to this brand new phone yet
You dread talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume all the way up and can’t understand what is being said, let someone else test the phone for you. If they are able to hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the problem.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It seems as if it’s no longer only the kids who are mumbling when they talk, it’s your neighbor, the news lady, your partner, and even your bartender. It’s difficult 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 first indications that your hearing is changing.
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. Very often the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to observe you are struggling to hear. You should definitely 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 people tend to ignore unless it’s distracting. Tinnitus, the medical term for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a common symptom of hearing loss.
Triggers are a substantial factor in tinnitus so it can be periodic, too. For example, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only occurs in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory problems, or high blood pressure could be the cause.
It’s crucial that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something could be wrong, so you should schedule an appointment right away to get an exam.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as enjoyable
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many individuals are mumbling all at once. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what people say that much more difficult. 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 around the pool. And attempting to focus in on conversations is exhausting.
7. You’re normally not this fatigued
Struggling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain has to work harder to process what it does hear, so you are more tired than usual. You might even notice changes in your other senses. If your brain is using 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left for your eyesight or balance? If your last eye exam was normal, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
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. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are confusing dialogue, for example. How about the other stuff in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep turning up the volume, then your hearing could be failing.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for certain is a professional hearing assessment and if you find out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test if you’ve detected any of the above signs.
