Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s associated with aging, generally progresses in degrees. Some indicators appear earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is a problem right away.
These initially developing symptoms advance very subtly. Delaying the development of hearing loss and its associated health challenges is a matter of early detection. However, you’re unable to recognize the signs if you don’t know what they are. You might be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely detectable signs.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Perhaps you can understand the cashier just fine, but when your wife chimes in on the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is a higher pitch, and that’s why it isn’t as clear. You might 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
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not picking it up:
- It’s most likely just spam
- It’s a new phone, and I’m simply not used to it yet
You hate talking on the phone, but why? It will be a good idea to get someone else to check the phone for you if the volume is at max and you still aren’t able to hear what the other person is saying. You probably 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 as of late, the lady on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your partner all seem like they’re mumbling when they speak with you. If it seems like everyone in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the probability of that? You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. One of the first signs that something is going on with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are dropping off.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You might not even realize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Frequently, the first people to notice that you’re developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. You should certainly pay attention if someone says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t really a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to dismiss unless it’s distracting. Tinnitus, the medical name 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. For example, maybe 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 important that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something could be wrong, so you should make an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable attending the neighborhood get-together
Again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. Also, being in noisy places makes understanding what people say that much harder. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re in the presence of something as simple as the AC kicking in or kids splashing and playing around the pool. And, you always feel exhausted from trying to keep up with conversations.
7. You’re usually not this worn out
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. You feel more tired than usual because your brain needs to work overtime to try and process what it’s trying to hear. You might even experience differences in your other senses. If your brain is utilizing 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left over for your eyesight or balance? 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 the volume up. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. There are other things like the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. Your hearing may be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing assessment and if it turns out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get some of your hearing back.
Give us a call today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test if you’ve detected any of the above signs.
