You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, it was irritating earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at work. Last night your daughter seemed frustrated with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again resulting in her suddenly leaving the house. What’s the deal with that?
Maybe the real problem is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for about 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even slight hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. You could have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply a sign of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t exclude you from the conversation after all, perhaps you missed crucial conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. The fact is, if you can’t hear very well during your day-to-day life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to begin is finding out more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to lots of people due to the aging process. But years of exposure to overly loud noise can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, including mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in loud traffic with the window down. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of sounds in the world.
Long-term diseases that become more prevalent as one grows older are a potential factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which causes damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People normally take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to fail they don’t detect the signs:
- When people are conversing, you continually feel excluded
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been coping with any of these symptoms! Feeling isolated from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.
Treating hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you struggling to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too frequently. It might seem like a difficult discussion but it’s a very worthwhile one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next step and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how extensive it has become. If hearing loss is established, we will recommend the next course of action for you based on the results of the test. In most cases, that will entail getting hearing aids. You’ll definitely be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to choose from.
Picking out quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. Take some to time determine the correct brand and model for your needs, this may require testing several styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do a lot more than simply amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids include different features, so do some research to find out what features you need to improve your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing assessment with our qualified hearing specialists today if you think you could be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
