Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s caused by aging, generally progresses in degrees. Some indicators appear earlier, though, and you don’t detect there is a problem immediately.
The early symptoms of progressive hearing loss are subtle. Identifying them sooner is essential to slow down the development of hearing loss or other health issues connected to aging. However, you can’t recognize the signs if you don’t know what they are. Consider these eight barely noticeable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe you can understand the cashier perfectly, but when your wife chimes in on the conversation, everything gets messed up. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is a higher 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 such as the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You avoid phone calls
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t answer the phone when it rings:
- It’s most likely just spam
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
You hate talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume at max and can’t hear what is being said, let a friend 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 does everyone 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 woman, your spouse, and even your bartender. If it seems like 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 dropped off consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the first signs that your hearing is going through changes.
4. What?
It might not be until somebody points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you recognize you are developing hearing loss. Frequently, the first people to notice you are developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. If someone comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a distraction, people tend to disregard it. Tinnitus, the medical name for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss.
Triggers are a substantial factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Maybe, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most significant ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure could 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 schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable attending the neighborhood get-together
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many individuals are mumbling at the same time. It’s so much harder to make out what people are saying in noisy settings. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re in the presence of something as simple as the AC turning on or youngsters splashing and playing in the pool. And, you always feel exhausted from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You feel more tired than normal
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. You feel more tired than usual because your brain has to work overtime to try and process what it’s attempting to hear. You might even notice changes in your other senses. How much energy is left for eyesight, for example, if your brain is using so much of its energy trying to hear and understand words? If your eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to have your ears 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 blame your service provider or that old TV. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. How about the other stuff in the room such as the AC or the ceiling fan? Your hearing might be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
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 make an appointment.