It isn’t like you simply wake up one day, and your hearing is gone. Hearing loss, especially when it’s associated with aging, generally advances in degrees. Some indicators show up earlier, though, and you don’t recognize there is an issue immediately.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are subtle. Slowing down the development of hearing loss and its related health problems is a matter of early detection. However, you’re unable to recognize the signs if you have no clue what they are. Contemplate these eight barely detectable signs that you may have hearing loss.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife speaks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a common indication 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 have the same problem with your grandchild or daughter. 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 often make excuses for not answering:
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
- It’s 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 all the way up and you still can’t hear what the other person is saying. You most likely have a hearing loss problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It seems like 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 as if everyone in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the probability of that? You’re not hearing words the same as you used to. Mumbling or dropped off consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the first indications that your hearing is going through changes.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
It may not be until someone points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Very often the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to detect you are struggling to hear. If somebody comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t really a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to ignore unless it’s distracting. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
Triggers are an important factor in tinnitus so it can be periodic, too. For example, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only occurs in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory problems, or high blood pressure may be the cause.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should make an appointment for an exam because they might be a sign that you’re having a health issue.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood BBQ isn’t as enjoyable
Once again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. It’s so much more difficult to make out what people are saying in loud places. It becomes impossible for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC turning on or youngsters splashing and playing in the pool. And trying to keep up with conversations is tedious.
7. You’re usually not this fatigued
Battling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain needs to work overtime to process what it does hear, so you are more fatigued than usual. Your other senses may even begin to change. How much energy is left over for eyesight, for instance, if your brain is using so much of its energy trying to hear and understand words? If your last eye exam was good, then the next thing to get tested is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to keep turning the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to blame your service provider or that out-dated TV. 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 such as the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. If you keep cranking the volume up, then your hearing could be failing.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing exam and if you find out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to make an appointment.