Bananas taste a lot different then they did in the past. That’s because modern banana farmers grow a very different type of banana then they used to. Today’s banana can grow easily in a wide variety of climates, are more resilient, and can sprout faster. And they taste quite different. So how did this change occur without us noticing? Well, the reality is that it developed slowly, over time. The change was so slow you never noticed.
Hearing loss can occur in the same way. It isn’t like you wake up one day and can’t hear a thing. For the majority of individuals, hearing loss develops gradually, frequently so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s happening.
Early treatment can really help maintain your hearing so that’s a regrettable truth. If you are aware that your hearing is in danger, for example, you may take more precautions to protect it. That’s why it may be significant to watch for these seven indications your hearing could be waning.
7 signs you should get a hearing test
Hearing loss isn’t always thoroughly grasped as it develops slowly over time. It’s not like you’ll go to a loud rock concert and the next day find yourself totally incapable of hearing. Repetitive exposure to loud noise over a long period of time slowly produces noticeable hearing loss. The sooner you manage your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. You don’t want to put off on this because untreated hearing loss has been connected to issues such as social separation, depression, and dementia.
You should, uh, keep your ear to the ground for these seven indications that you might be experiencing hearing loss. A hearing test is the only way to know, but perhaps these warning signs will motivate you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re constantly turning the volume up
Do you find yourself frequently reaching for the volume controls? Perhaps they’re mixing the audio on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have started to mumble. But it’s more likely that you’re compensating for your increasing hearing loss by turning the volume up on your devices.
This is particularly the case if your family has also regularly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They will frequently detect your hearing loss before you notice it.
Sign #2: You failed to hear the doorbell (or a phone call)
It could be a sign that you’re having hearing problems if you are continuously missing everyday sounds. Some of the most common sounds you may miss include:
- Someone knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell: You thought your friend just walked into your house but you in fact missed him knocking.
- Timers and alarms: Did you overcook dinner or sleep or sleep through the ringing of your alarm clock? It might not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is too quiet.
- Your phone: Are you missing text messages? Nobody calls nowadays, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a call.
If your loved ones have mentioned that they’re a little afraid of driving with you because you’re missing so many day to day sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck in reverse), that could be an indication that it’s time for a hearing exam.
Sign #3: You’re always needing people to repeat what they said
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? It’s likely that it’s an issue with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they’re talking with you. If people do repeat themselves and you still can’t hear them this is especially true. Most likely, time to schedule a hearing assessment.
Sign #4: Is everybody starting to mumble?
You could also call this sign #3-A, because they go pretty well together. If it sounds like everyone around you is continuously mumbling or saying something under their breath, the reality is… well, they likely aren’t. That might be a relief (it’s no fun to be surrounded by individuals who you think are mumbling things about you). The reality is that you’re just not hearing them due to your loss of hearing.
If you’re trying to talk to someone in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be particularly relevant.
Sign #5: Family members encourage you to get a hearing assessment (or invest in hearing aids)
You most likely have a rather close relationship with your family and friends. It’s likely that at least some of them have pretty healthy hearing. It’s a smart idea to listen to your family members (especially the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
It’s understandable that you would want to rationalize away this proposal. Possibly you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But heeding their advice could protect the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance problems
Ringing in your ears is a condition called tinnitus. It’s incredibly common. When you have hearing loss, your tinnitus can become severe for a couple of reasons:
- Both can be triggered by damage: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be brought on by damage. So you’re more likely to experience tinnitus and hearing loss the more damaged your hearing is.
- Tinnitus is more pronounced when you have hearing loss: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your daily life. But as those everyday noises fade to the background (due to hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes relatively louder and substantially more noticeable.
Either way, if you’re noticing loud ringing, or even dizziness and vertigo, it could be a sign that something is going on in your ears. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing assessment.
Sign #7: You feel tired after social interactions
Perhaps the reason why social situations have become so tiring is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it may be possible that you’re not hearing as clearly as you used to.
Your hearing could be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social event. Your brain is trying to fill in the holes that you can’t hear. This is exhausting (no matter how good your brain is), particularly over the long run. So when you’re in especially challenging situations (like a noisy space), you might experience even more fatigue.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage in our lifetimes. If or when you develop hearing loss is heavily dependent on how well you safeguard your ears when you’re subjected to loud sound.
So it might be an indication that the banana is changing if you experience any of these signs. Thankfully, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get tested! You’ll be able to get treatment as soon as you get diagnosed.