Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss happens in degrees, particularly when it is linked to the aging process. Some indicators show up earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is an issue right away.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Recognizing them sooner is essential to delay the development of hearing loss or other health issues associated with aging. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be able to recognize if you have them. Consider these eight barely detectable signs that you might have hearing loss.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you talk with your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You may have the same problem with your grandchild or daughter. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those tones are high, also.
2. You avoid phone calls
When the phone rings you often make excuses for not answering:
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
- I get tons of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
Consider why you dislike using your phone. If you have the volume all the way up and can’t hear what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. You probably have a hearing loss problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It used to be just the kids, but as of late, the woman on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your spouse all seem like they’re mumbling when they speak with you. It’s difficult to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a strong indication of hearing decline. How you hear words is changing. One of the first indications 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 can’t hear conversations anymore until someone points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Often, the first people to notice you are 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. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to ignore it. Tinnitus, the medical name for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss.
Triggers are an important factor in tinnitus so it can be periodic, too. Perhaps, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most significant ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure might be the cause.
It’s essential that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something may be wrong, so you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. It isn’t as enjoyable going to 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 basic as youngsters 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 keep up with conversations.
7. You’re normally not this fatigued
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. You feel more tired than normal because your brain has to work overtime to try and process what it’s attempting to hear. You may even experience changes in your other senses. If your brain is utilizing 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left over for your eyesight or balance? If your last eye test was normal, then the next thing to get tested is your ears.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
When you have to constantly turn the volume on your TV up, 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’re dealing with hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. There are other things like the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. If you keep turning 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 get a hearing test.
Give us a call today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test if you’ve noticed any of the above signs.