You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, it was aggravating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at work. The other night your daughter seemed frustrated with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again leading to her abruptly leaving the house. What’s the story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be experiencing 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 problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even minor hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s just a sign of aging. Perhaps, you missed essential conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear very well during your day-to-day life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to start is learning more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to excessively loud noise can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more prevalent with age. When you have conditions that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- Struggling to understand words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- When individuals are conversing, you always feel excluded
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
Naturally, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been coping with any of these signs! Feeling separated from your world can result in depression and even social solitude.
Make a plan to manage hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have noticed you having a hard time hearing. It’s a crucial conversation even if it’s a challenging one. A hearing test should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have observed you having a difficult time hearing. Try to get a loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how significant it has become. If hearing loss is established, we will advise the next course of action for you depending on the results of the exam. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your lifestyle since there are so many styles and options to pick 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 might require testing a few styles and models. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can identify the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even connect to smartphones and computers. Do some research to find out which brands and models provide the features that will best fit your lifestyle and needs.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, too. They come in various snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are practically invisible.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/