Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss progresses in degrees, particularly when it is linked to the aging process. Some signs show up earlier, though, and you don’t detect there is an issue immediately.
These initially developing symptoms advance very discreetly. Recognizing them sooner is essential to delay the progression of hearing loss or other health problems connected to aging. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. Consider these eight barely noticeable indicators that you might have hearing loss.
1. You hear some people perfectly fine but not others
Maybe when you talk with your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife speaks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is less clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You may not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those tones are high, also.
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:
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m simply not used to it yet
- It’s likely just spam
Consider why you dread talking on your phone. If you have the volume at max and can’t hear what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the problem.
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 lady, your spouse, and even your bartender. It’s difficult to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has bad enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing decline. How you hear words is changing. One of the first indications that something is going on 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
You may not even recognize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Often, the first people to detect that you’re 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. What’s that ringing in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a distraction, people tend to ignore it. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
Tinnitus can also be periodic because triggers are a significant factor. For example, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only happens in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure could be the cause.
It’s important that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something might be wrong, so you should make an appointment right away to get checked out.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable going to the neighborhood block party
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many people are mumbling all at once. Also, being in loud settings makes understanding what individuals say that much more difficult. Something as simple as kids playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it extremely tough to hear anything. And trying to focus in on conversations is tedious.
7. You’re normally not this exhausted
Battling to understand words is draining. Your brain has to work harder to process what it can hear, so you are more tired than normal. 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 for your eyesight or balance? If your last eye test was good, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
When you have to keep turning 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 hear the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are confusing dialogue, for example. There are other things such as the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. Your hearing may be failing if you constantly turn the volume up.
Luckily, if your hearing is declining, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, give us a call today to make an appointment.
