Your hearing won’t be simply gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s related to aging, generally progresses in degrees. Some signs show up earlier, though, and you don’t detect there is a problem immediately.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Delaying the development of hearing loss and its associated health problems is a matter of early detection. However, you can’t detect the signs if you have no clue what they are. Contemplate these eight barely detectable indicators that you might have hearing loss.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe when you talk with your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife speaks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is not as clear to you because the pitch is higher. You might not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You avoid phone conversations
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not picking it up:
- I’m simply not used to this brand new phone yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
You hate talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume at max and can’t understand what is being said, let someone else test the phone for you. You most likely have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everybody mumbling?
It seems like it’s no longer only the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news lady, your spouse, and even your bartender. It’s difficult to imagine that everyone in your life suddenly has bad enunciation so this is a strong indication of hearing decline. How you hear words is changing. One of the first signs that something is happening with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are dropping off.
4. What?
You may not even recognize 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 every day like coworkers or family are the first to observe that you’re 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 disruption, people tend to disregard it. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
Triggers are a significant factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Maybe, when you first get up in the morning is when you have the most noticeable ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure might be the cause.
It’s important that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something may be wrong, so you should make an appointment right away to get an exam.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable attending the neighborhood get-together
Once again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. Also, being in noisy places makes understanding what individuals say that much harder. 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, you always feel fatigued from trying to keep up with conversations.
7. You feel more fatigued than usual
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. You feel more tired than normal because your brain needs to work harder to try and interpret what it’s trying to hear. Your other senses might even start to change. If your brain is utilizing 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left for your eyesight or balance? If your last eye test was good, then the next thing to get tested is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to constantly turn the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to blame your service provider or that old TV. When you have hearing loss it’s difficult to follow along with dialog on your favorite shows. The background music and sound effects are confusing dialogue, for example. How about the other things in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep turning the volume up, then your hearing may be failing.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing exam and if you find out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to make an appointment.