Your workplace recently embraced the trend of open-office floor plans, promoting collaboration and teamwork. However, you find yourself struggling in this new configuration. It’s because the increased noise is making it hard to follow along with conversation and not because you miss the privacy of cubical walls.
The inability to follow along with conversations in noisy settings frequently acts as an early indicator of hearing loss, despite conventional hearing tests yielding normal results. This suggests that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
Speech comprehension is a complex mental task that demands considerable brainpower. Distinguishing speech from background noise and focusing on particular voices amidst a cacophony of sounds requires optimal hearing capabilities.
It becomes increasingly challenging for the brain to isolate speech in loud settings as we get older. Because of this, it becomes mentally fatiguing to be in noisy settings like restaurants and bustling offices.
How to recognize the early signs of hearing loss
Here are a few ways that early hearing loss can manifest:
- Social isolation.
- Increased mental fatigue as a result of heightened concentration needed for listening.
- When in noisy settings, conversations are hard to understand.
Testing for hearing loss
Uncovering such challenges can be tricky, especially when conventional diagnostics suggest normal hearing. Here are some tests being developed by researchers to identify hearing loss in its early stages:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device tracks the electrical EEG signals sent by your ears to your brain. It will be a strong sign that you’re having some hearing difficulty if these signals change in a particular way when you’re in a crowded place.
- The Eye Test: A special pair of glasses is utilized in this test. The movement and dilation of your pupils can be tracked with these glasses. If you’re concentrating a bit harder than usual your pupils will behave in a particular way. So if this tends to occur in crowded or loud areas, it could be a sign that you’re having to strain to hear.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, along with personal observation, are able to detect hearing problems in their very early stages.
What are the benefits of early detection?
There are two significant benefits to early detection.
- Addressing hearing loss promptly prevents cognitive decline associated with neglected hearing impairments.
- It alleviates aggravation by providing clarity about the difficulties of being in places like open office plans.
If you’re experiencing difficulty following conversations despite “normal” hearing, consider finding a professional evaluation.
Overall cognitive function and auditory health will be improved by early detection. Schedule a hearing test today and investigate options right for you.