Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s related to aging, generally advances in degrees. You may not realize it’s taking place right away but some signs do appear earlier.
These early developing symptoms advance very subtly. Slowing down the development of hearing loss and its related health problems is a matter of early detection. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be able to recognize if you have them. You may be developing hearing loss if you notice any of the following eight barely noticeable indicators.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Perhaps you can understand the cashier perfectly, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is less clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You might not be capable of hearing your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can become a problem. Those tones are high, as well.
2. You avoid phone conversations
When the phone rings you often make excuses for not answering:
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
- It’s most likely just spam
Contemplate why you dread talking on your phone. It will be a good idea to get someone else to test the phone for you if the volume is all the way up and you still aren’t able to hear what the other person is saying. 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 talk, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your partner, and even your bartender. It’s difficult to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a strong indication of hearing loss. 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 changing.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You might not even recognize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until someone points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Often, the first people to notice that you’re developing hearing loss are the people you see on a daily basis, like family and coworkers. If someone comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a distraction, people tend to ignore it. Tinnitus, the medical term for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a common symptom of hearing loss.
Tinnitus can also be intermittent because triggers are a significant factor. Maybe, when you first get up in the morning is when you have the most significant ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure may be the cause.
If you’re noticing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they could be an indication that you’re having a health issue.
6. It’s not as fun attending the neighborhood get-together
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many individuals are mumbling at the same time. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as simple as children playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC kicking on you makes it impossible to hear anything. And, you always feel fatigued from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You’re usually not this exhausted
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. You feel more tired than usual because your brain needs to work harder to try and process what it’s attempting to hear. Your other senses may even start to change. How much energy is left for eyesight, for example, if your brain is spending so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your most recent eye exam was good, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to keep turning the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that old TV. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are confusing dialogue, for example. What about the other stuff in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep cranking up the volume, then your hearing might be failing.
The good thing is, 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, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.