Hearing loss is well known to be a process that progresses gradually. That’s why it can be rather pernicious. Your hearing doesn’t deteriorate in giant leaps but rather in tiny steps. So if you’re not paying close attention, it can be difficult to keep track of the decline in your hearing. Because of this, it’s important to be acquainted with the early signs of hearing loss.
An entire variety of related issues, like anxiety, depression, and even dementia, can result from untreated hearing loss, so even though it’s hard to notice, it’s important to get hearing loss treated as early as you can. You will also prevent further deterioration with timely treatment. Observing the early warning signs is the best way to guarantee treatment.
Initial signs of hearing loss can be hard to identify
The first signs of hearing loss tend to be elusive. It’s not like you wake up one morning and, all of a sudden, you can’t hear anything quieter than 65 decibels. The symptoms, instead, become incorporated into your day-to-day lives.
You see, the human body and brain, are incredibly adaptable. When your hearing begins to go, your brain can begin to compensate, helping you follow conversations or determine who said what. Similarly, if your left ear begins to fade, maybe your right ear starts to pick up the slack and you unconsciously start tilting your head just a bit.
But your ears and brain can only compensate so much.
First signs of age-related hearing loss
If you’re concerned that your hearing (or the hearing of a family member) may be waning as a result of age, there are some common signs you can keep an eye out for:
- Struggling to hear in noisy environments: One thing your brain is remarkably good at is distinguishing individual voices in a busy room. But as your hearing gets worse, your brain has less information to work with. Hearing in a crowded space can quickly become overwhelming. Getting a hearing test is the best option if you find yourself steering clear of more conversations because you’re having a difficult time following along.
- Increased volume on the TV, radio, or mobile phone: This is probably the single most well-known sign of hearing loss. It’s common and frequently cited. But it’s also easy to notice and easy to track (and easy to relate to). You can be certain that your hearing is beginning to go if you’re constantly turning the volume up.
- You can’t differentiate between “s” and “th” sounds now: These consonant sounds tend to vibrate on a frequency that becomes progressively difficult to differentiate as your hearing fades. You should pay particular attention to the “s” and “th” sounds, but other consonant sounds can also become mixed up.
- You frequently find yourself asking people to repeat themselves: This may be surprising. But, typically, you won’t recognize you’re doing it. When you have a hard time hearing something, you might request some repetition. When this begins to happen more often, it should raise some red flags around your hearing.
Keep your eye out for these subtle signs of hearing loss, too
There are a few signs of hearing loss that don’t seem to have very much to do with your hearing. These are subtle signs, no doubt, but they can be a major indicator that your ears are struggling.
- Restless nights: Insomnia is, ironically, a sign of hearing loss. It seems like it would be easier to fall asleep when it’s quiet, but you go into a chronic state of restless alertness when you’re constantly straining to hear.
- Frequent headaches: When your hearing begins to decline, your ears are still straining to hear sounds. They’re doing hard work. And straining like this over extended periods can trigger chronic headaches.
- Difficulty concentrating: If your brain is having to devote more resources to hearing, you could have less concentration energy available to accomplish your everyday routines. As a result, you might experience some difficulty focusing.
It’s a good plan to get in touch with us for a hearing test if you’re experiencing any of these age related signs of hearing loss. Then, we can formulate treatment plans that can protect your hearing.
Hearing loss is a slow-moving process. With the correct knowledge, you can stay ahead of it.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/46306-Hearing-loss-auditory-deprivation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20373072