Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss comes in degrees, particularly when it is linked to the aging process. Some indicators show up earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is a problem right away.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are subtle. 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 capable of recognizing if you have them. Contemplate these eight barely detectable indicators that you might have hearing loss.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you speak with your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is less clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You might have the same issue with your grandchild or daughter. Even higher pitched tones like the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t answer the phone when it rings:
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
- I’m simply not used to this brand new phone yet
Contemplate why you dislike using your phone. It will be a useful idea to get someone else to check the phone for you if the volume is at max and you still can’t hear what the other person is saying. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the issue.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It used to be just the kids, but as of late, the woman on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your partner all seem like they’re mumbling when they talk to you. It’s difficult to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing decline. You’re not hearing words the same as you used to. One of the first signs that something is happening with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are dropping off.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You might not even recognize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Frequently, the first people to notice that you’re developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. You should definitely pay attention if someone says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to ignore unless it’s distracting. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are a substantial factor in tinnitus so it can be periodic, too. For instance, maybe the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only happens in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure might be the cause.
It’s essential that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something might be wrong, so you should make an appointment as soon as possible to get checked out.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as fun
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. Also, being in loud places makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as basic as kids playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC kicking on you makes it extremely tough to hear anything. And attempting to keep up with conversations is tedious.
7. You’re normally not this fatigued
Struggling to understand words is draining. You feel more tired than usual because your brain needs to work harder to try and process what it’s attempting to hear. You might even experience differences in your other senses. 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 normal, then the next thing to get tested is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
It’s easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you have to keep cranking up the volume. It can be hard to hear the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. How about the other stuff in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep turning up the volume, then your hearing may be failing.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing assessment and if you find out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to make an appointment.