Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss comes in degrees, especially when it is related to the aging process. You may not realize it’s occurring right away but some indicators do show up earlier.
These initially developing symptoms progress very discreetly. Slowing down the development of hearing loss and its related health challenges 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. Consider these eight barely noticeable signs that you might have hearing loss.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe you can hear the cashier just fine, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a typical sign that the nerves that transmit messages to the brain are damaged (called sensorineural hearing loss).
Her voice is less clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You may not be capable of hearing your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even higher pitched tones like the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those tones are high, as well.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t pick up the phone when it rings:
- It’s likely just spam
- It’s a new phone, and I’m just not used to it yet
You dread talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume all the way up and can’t understand what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. If they are able to hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are probably the issue.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It seems like it’s no longer just the kids who are mumbling when they talk, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your spouse, and even your bartender. If it seems as if everyone in your life is mumbling, you’re probably dealing with hearing loss, because what is the probability of that? You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. Mumbling or dropped off consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the first signs that your hearing is going through changes.
4. What?
It might not be until someone points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you recognize you are developing hearing loss. Very often the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to observe that you’re struggling to hear. You should certainly pay attention if someone says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
This sign is somewhat more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to disregard it. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
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 pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a sign of high blood pressure, circulatory issues, or trauma.
It’s important that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something may be wrong, so you should make an appointment right away to get checked out.
6. Joining your friends at the neighborhood BBQ isn’t as enjoyable
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many individuals are mumbling at the same time. It’s so much more difficult to understand what people are saying in loud settings. Something as basic as youngsters playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it extremely tough to hear anything. And, you always feel fatigued from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You feel more tired than normal
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. You feel more fatigued than usual because your brain needs to work overtime to try and process what it’s attempting to hear. You might even notice differences in your other senses. How much energy is left over for eyesight, for instance, if your brain is using so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to have your ears checked.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
It’s easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you need to keep turning up the volume. When you have hearing loss it’s hard to follow along with dialog on your favorite shows. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. There are other things like the room AC or ceiling fan to deal with. Your hearing could be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for certain is a professional hearing test and if it turns out your hearing is failing, hearing aids will help you get some of your hearing back.
Give us a call today to make an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve experienced any of the above signs.