Hearing loss is usually an aggravating condition that can be the result of various things. Even though hearing loss is usually the result of age or an injury, in some situations, hearing loss may be an indication of a more serious underlying medical issue.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should look for
Hearing loss will often throw up various red flags indicating it’s time for a hearing exam. Here are a few of those red flags that should make you pay attention.
Having trouble hearing phone calls
You may be having a hard time hearing phone calls even with the volume setting. If you are continually turning the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you should make an appointment as soon as possible for a hearing assessment.
Difficulty following conversations
Even though getting lost when you’re having a conversation isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, it might be a sign of hearing loss if you regularly have difficulty processing the conversation when two or more individuals are talking at the same time.
Neighbors and family members are complaining about a loud TV
Following along with television shows, especially when there’s dialog and music, can be difficult. We need to recognize that the sound doesn’t automatically get clearer when you crank the volume up. But if you continuously need the tv turned up to a high volume that is unpleasant for other people in the room or if your neighbors can hear your television, it is time to check your hearing.
Difficulty hearing in loud settings
If you are in a public place and the background sound makes it hard to hear the others with you, it generally means you struggle to mask background noise and tune into speech. This is one of the most prevalent complaints of people who are going through hearing loss.
You say “what” a lot
If someone is mumbling a few feet from you and you can’t hear them, that doesn’t automatically indicate you have hearing loss. However, if you say the word “what” more than any other word in your vocabulary, it might be a red flag that you aren’t getting sound signals clearly in order to process speech properly.
Failing to understand what people are saying
It can be a sign of high frequency hearing loss, often an awkward one, if you frequently misunderstand what people are saying. This type of hearing loss makes it hard to distinguish speech.
If you are noticing any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing assessment as soon as possible. Fortunately, the stigma that was once linked to hearing loss no longer exists, the testing is easy, and with the modern developments in hearing aid technologies, there’s no reason for you to continue to suffer with hearing loss.