Hearing loss can be a consequence of numerous things and is generally incredibly aggravating. Although hearing loss is usually the result of age or an injury, in some circumstances, hearing loss may be a symptom of a more serious root medical condition.
Watch out for these hearing loss red flags
Hearing loss will frequently throw up a variety of red flags meaning it’s time for a hearing exam. Here are a few of those red flags that should make you take notice.
Trouble hearing on the phone
You might be having a hard time hearing phone calls even with the volume setting. If you are constantly cranking the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible for a hearing assessment.
Trouble making out conversations
Although getting lost when you’re having a conversation isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, it may be a sign of hearing loss if you frequently have trouble processing the conversation when two or more individuals are talking simultaneously.
Family & neighbors are complaining about a loud TV
Following along with tv shows, especially when there’s music and dialog, can be challenging. It’s important to understand that turning the television up louder doesn’t always make the sound clearer. But if you continuously need the tv cranked up to a high volume that is uncomfortable for others in the room or if your neighbors are hearing your television, it is time to get your hearing checked.
Difficulty hearing in loud environments
If you are in a public location and the background sound makes it difficult to hear the other people with you, it generally means you struggle to mask background noise and focus on speech. This is one of the most prevalent complaints of individuals who are going through hearing loss.
You say “what” frequently
If somebody is mumbling a few feet from you and you’re unable to hear them, that doesn’t always indicate you have hearing loss. However, it may be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech correctly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Misunderstanding what people are saying
It can be a sign of high frequency hearing loss, often an awkward one, if you regularly misunderstand what people are saying. This means you are unable to discern the sounds of speech.
If you are experiencing any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing exam as soon as you can. The good news is, hearing testing is simple and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to continue to have difficulty hearing.
