It’s not like you just wake up one day, and suddenly can’t hear. For most people, hearing loss comes in degrees, particularly when it is related to aging. You might not realize it’s taking place right away but some indicators do show up earlier.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Slowing down the progression of hearing loss and its related health challenges is a matter of early detection. But if you don’t know what the early symptoms are, you won’t be able to recognize if you have them. You may be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely detectable indicators.
1. You hear some people perfectly fine but not others
Perhaps you can understand the cashier just fine, but when your wife chimes in on the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it isn’t as clear. You might not be capable of hearing your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even higher pitched tones such as the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those tones are high, as well.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
When the phone rings you tend to make excuses for not picking it up:
- I’m just not used to this brand new phone yet
- It’s likely just spam
Contemplate why you dislike talking on your phone. If you have the volume all the way up and can’t hear what is being said, let someone else test the phone for you. You probably have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It used to be just the kids, but as of late, the lady on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your spouse all seem like they are mumbling when they talk to you. If it seems as if everybody 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 used to. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial signs that your hearing is going through changes.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You might not even recognize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until someone points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Often, the first people to detect you are developing hearing loss are the people you see on a daily basis, like family and coworkers. You should definitely pay attention if somebody says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
This sign is a bit more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to disregard it. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are an important factor in tinnitus so it can be periodic, too. For example, maybe the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only manifests 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 may be an indication that you’re having a health problem.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable going to the neighborhood get-together
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. Also, being in noisy places makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as simple as children playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC kicking on you makes it extremely tough to hear anything. And, you always feel exhausted from trying to keep up with conversations.
7. You’re normally not this exhausted
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. You feel more tired than normal because your brain needs to work overtime to try and process what it’s attempting to hear. You might even experience changes in your other senses. If your brain is utilizing 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 have your hearing assessed.
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 place the blame on your service provider or that old TV. It can be difficult 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 like the room AC or ceiling fan to deal with. If you keep turning the volume up, then your hearing might be failing.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing assessment 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, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.