Many people notice subtle signs of hearing loss long before they publicly acknowledge that they may have a problem. If you’re concerned that you may not hear as well as you did in the past, you may blow off those small signs because you think that you’re too young for hearing issues. You may simply not want to deal with the life-altering diagnosis of hearing loss. In addition, you may worry about what other people will think if you need a hearing aid or other forms of hearing loss treatment.
Regardless of the fear and uncertainty that you may feel when thinking about the potential of a hearing problem, it’s important to visit an ear doctor so that you can determine what is happening with your hearing as soon as possible. The earlier your condition is diagnosed, the faster you can start benefiting from treatment. If you find out that your hearing is not impaired, you can spare yourself a lot of worry by finding that out sooner rather than later.
According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, nearly 50 million people in the United States have reported hearing loss. By the time you reach the age of 65, one-third of your peers are likely experiencing some difficulty with their hearing. Those numbers are likely much higher in reality, since many people don’t report minor hearing loss. Some instead consult an injury lawyer due to the nature of the injuries sustained that led to the hearing loss. If you want to determine whether your signs of hearing impairment deserve a visit to the doctor, take an honest look at your experiences in daily life.
Turning the Volume Up
As hearing loss sets in, the volume creeps up on electronic devices. If your family members or housemates have to turn the volume on the television down in order to speak to you or they complain that you have it up so loud that they can hear it across the house, you have to consider the potential for hearing loss.
If you’re experiencing minor hearing problems, you may simply notice that you need to turn your devices up louder than in years past. If your volume is going up steadily with time, then you may suffer from progressive hearing loss. The faster you intervene with a professional hearing test, the more likely you are to stop future impairment. You may also find that your hearing problems are caused by ear wax or fluid build-up, which you can prevent in the future.
Pay Attention to Social Signs
Many people with hearing loss find it difficult to participate in conversations with multiple people or in busy environments with a lot of background noise. The distractions are enough to magnify the impact of even minor hearing problems. Many people will withdraw from these situations or blame others for speaking too softly, but there are two signs that the problem is on your end:
• Other people continue to participate in the conversation without problem.
• This routinely happens to you in busy environments or multi-person conversations.
If you’re still wondering if you have hearing problems, you can ask a few trusted friends the following questions:
• Do you have to repeat yourself often when talking to me?
• How often do you think I misunderstand the words that you’re speaking?
• Do you talk louder when communicating with me than to other people?
How your friends interact with you may tell you whether a professional hearing test is necessary, but you can also analyze your experiences in the upcoming week or month. If you have to strain to hear someone talk over the table in a crowded restaurant or have trouble hearing a movie or live play at the theater, it’s probably time to for a checkup.
Missing the Subtleties of Life
Even if you can hear well enough to follow conversations and function in a professional work environment, there’s a chance that you’re missing out on subtle sounds. You may wait for hours for the dryer to beep, realizing later that it beeped without your acknowledgement. When you go for a walk with a friend, you may get confused as they talk about the pretty chirps of birds that you can’t hear.
While this level of hearing loss may not interfere substantially with your daily life, it can make a difference in your quality of life. It may also lead to embarrassment when you miss the ding of the elevator or other sounds designed to grab your attention.
It’s important to note that other things can cause you to miss background noises. For instance, you may not hear birds chirping during your walk because you’re focused on the conversation with your friend. You may not notice the elevator beep because you’re distracted by the to-do list running in your head. What you should pay attention to are repetitive instances of missing subtle sounds, especially if there are no other explanations for those occurrences.
Compensating with Technology
Smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart watches are used in many ways today, but these devices may take higher priority in the life of someone suffering from hearing loss. If your teenager yells something to you across the house, you may ask them to send you a text message instead because you can’t understand what they’re saying when they’re in a different room. If you struggle to hear clearly over the telephone, you may find text messaging or emailing more efficient and comfortable.
You never have to ask your conversation partner to repeat their words when you have a written copy. You don’t have to worry about mixing up words that sound alike, leading to embarrassing misunderstandings. There are other reasons that you may prefer electronic or written communication, but this is something to consider if you’re questioning your hearing ability.
Hearing aids are another possibility. Click here to learn more.
Are You Suffering Hearing Loss?
If even one of the above points rings a familiar bell, you should consider visiting your doctor for a hearing test. Your primary practitioner can perform a basic test, but you may want to visit an audiologist Denver for a more thorough screening. Remember, it’s best to catch hearing loss while it’s subtle because early intervention may prevent more substantial problems from developing in the future.