You’re not quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, it was annoying earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at work. The other night your daughter seemed irritated with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again resulting in her abruptly leaving the house. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be experiencing hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a problem for about 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. What you may believe is simply a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical condition. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear very well during your everyday life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Discover more about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re struggling with is a useful place to begin. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of growing older. But for others, it might be caused by years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more prevalent as we age. When you have conditions that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t detect when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- When there is background noise, like an AC or fan running, you struggle to hear words
- You always feel like you are being left out of the conversations
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
If you detect any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social isolation can be the result of feeling detached from your world.
Managing hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask family and friends if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It’s an important discussion even if it’s a challenging one. A hearing test should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have observed you having a hard time hearing. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to figure out your best course of action moving forward. In the majority of instances, that will entail getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re certain to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
How to choose quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is different and we will help you determine what treatment will be best for yours. You will probably need to test a number of brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing requirements. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can determine the direction that sound is coming from, block out background noise, and even link to smartphones and computers. Do some research to determine which brands and models provide the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
And, remember to think about styles. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you believe you might be suffering with hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
