It isn’t like you just wake up one day, and suddenly can’t hear. For most people, hearing loss progresses in degrees, particularly when it is related to aging. Some indicators appear earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is an issue right away.
These early developing symptoms advance very discreetly. Identifying them sooner is crucial to slow down the development of hearing loss or other health problems related to aging. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. Consider these eight barely noticeable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. You hear some people perfectly fine but not others
Perhaps you can hear the cashier perfectly, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You may not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even higher pitched tones like the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those tones are high, too.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not answering:
- I get tons of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
- I’m simply not used to this brand new phone yet
Consider why you dread using your phone. 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 problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everybody mumble these days?
It seems like it’s no longer only the kids who are mumbling when they talk, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your spouse, and even your bartender. If it seems as if everyone in your life is mumbling, you’re probably dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the first indications that your hearing is changing.
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. Very often the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to detect you are having a hard time hearing. You should definitely pay attention if somebody says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a distraction, people tend to ignore it. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are a significant factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. For example, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only happens in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure might be the cause.
It’s crucial that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something could be wrong, so you should make an appointment right away to get an exam.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as enjoyable
Once again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. It’s so much more difficult to understand what people are saying in loud settings. 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 exhausted from trying to keep up with conversations.
7. You feel more fatigued than usual
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. Your brain needs to work harder to process what it does hear, so you are more tired than usual. You may even notice differences in your other senses. How much energy is left over for eyesight, for instance, if your brain is using so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your most recent eye test was good, then the next thing to get checked 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 out-dated TV. When you’re experiencing hearing loss it’s difficult to hear dialog on your favorite shows. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. How about the other stuff in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep cranking the volume up, then your hearing may be failing.
Luckily, if your hearing is declining, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
