It isn’t like you simply wake up one day, and suddenly can’t hear. For most people, hearing loss comes in degrees, especially when it is linked to aging. You might not recognize it’s taking place right away but some signs do appear earlier.
These initially developing symptoms advance very discreetly. Delaying the progression of hearing loss and its associated health problems is a matter of early detection. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. You may be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely detectable indicators.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe you can hear the cashier perfectly, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets messed up. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is a higher pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You might not be capable of hearing your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even higher pitched tones such as the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. 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:
- I’m simply not used to this brand new phone yet
- It’s most likely just spam
You hate talking on the phone, but why? It will be a good idea to get someone else to test the phone for you if the volume is at max and you still can’t hear what the other person is saying. You most likely have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It seems as if 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. If it seems like everyone in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? The way 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. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You may not even realize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until someone points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Very often the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to notice that you’re struggling to hear. If somebody comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something individuals tend to ignore unless it’s disruptive. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Tinnitus can also be periodic because triggers are a significant factor. Perhaps, when you first get up in the morning is when you have the most pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a sign of high blood pressure, circulatory issues, or trauma.
It’s essential that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something might be wrong, so you should schedule an appointment right away to get checked out.
6. It’s not as enjoyable attending the neighborhood get-together
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many people are mumbling all at once. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as simple as youngsters playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it impossible to hear anything. And, you always feel fatigued from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You feel more fatigued than normal
Battling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain has to work overtime to process what it does hear, so you are more tired than normal. Your other senses may even start to change. If your brain is using 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 get your hearing checked.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
It is easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you have to keep turning the volume up. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. Dialogue is being muddled by background music and sound effects. There are other things like the room AC or ceiling fan to deal with. Your hearing could be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
Luckily, if your hearing is declining, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
Contact us today to make an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve detected any of the above signs.