Your hearing won’t be simply gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s associated with aging, typically advances in degrees. You may not detect it’s occurring immediately but some signs do show up earlier.
These early 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. Contemplate these eight barely noticeable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical sign that the nerves that transmit signals to the brain are damaged (known as sensorineural hearing loss).
Her voice is a higher pitch, and that’s why it isn’t as clear. You might have the same issue with your grandchild or daughter. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can become a problem. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t pick up the phone when it rings:
- I’m just not used to this brand new phone yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
You hate talking on the phone, but why? It will be a good idea to get someone else to check the phone for you if the volume is at max and you still aren’t able to hear what the other person is saying. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are probably the problem.
3. Why does everybody mumble these days?
It seems like it’s no longer only the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news lady, your partner, and even your bartender. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? How 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 getting lost.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
It might not be until someone points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Frequently the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to observe you are struggling to hear. You should definitely pay attention if somebody says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to dismiss unless it’s disruptive. 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, maybe the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only happens in the morning or when you are tired. Or, it could also be a symptom of high blood pressure, circulatory problems, or trauma.
If you’re noticing these symptoms you should make an appointment for an exam because they might be an indication that you’re having a health problem.
6. It’s not as enjoyable attending the neighborhood block party
Once again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. Also, being in loud settings makes understanding what individuals say that much more difficult. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC kicking in or kids splashing and playing around the pool. And attempting to focus in on conversations is exhausting.
7. You’re usually not this worn out
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. You feel more fatigued than normal because your brain needs to work overtime to try and interpret what it’s attempting to hear. Your other senses might 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 assessed.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
When you have to constantly turn the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that out-dated TV. When you’re experiencing hearing loss it’s hard to hear dialog on your favorite shows. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. There are other things such as the room AC or ceiling fan to deal with. Your hearing could be failing if you constantly turn the volume up.
The good thing is, if your hearing is failing, hearing aids can help, you just need to get a hearing test.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, give us a call today to make an appointment.