Your hearing won’t be simply gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s related to aging, typically advances in degrees. You may not realize it’s taking place right away but some indicators do appear earlier.
The early symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Delaying the progression of hearing loss and its related health challenges is a matter of early detection. However, you’re unable to detect the signs if you have no clue what they are. You might be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely detectable signs.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is a higher pitch, and that’s why it isn’t as clear. You may not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those tones are high, also.
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:
- It’s likely just spam
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m just not used to it yet
You dread talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume at max and can’t hear what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. You probably have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everybody mumble these days?
It seems as if it’s no longer just the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news lady, your spouse, and even your bartender. It’s hard to imagine that everyone in your life suddenly has bad enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing decline. 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 indications that your hearing is changing.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
It may not be until somebody points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Very often the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to detect that you’re having a hard time hearing. If someone comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle indication, but it is something individuals tend to dismiss unless it’s disruptive. Tinnitus, the medical name for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss.
Tinnitus can also be periodic because triggers are a significant factor. Maybe, when you first get up in the morning is when you have the most pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a symptom of high blood pressure, circulatory problems, or trauma.
It’s essential that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something may be wrong, so you should make an appointment as soon as possible to get checked out.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood BBQ isn’t as enjoyable
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many individuals are mumbling all at once. It’s so much more difficult to make out what people are saying in noisy places. Something as basic as kids 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 exhausted from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You feel more tired than usual
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. Your brain needs to work overtime to process what it can hear, so you are more fatigued than normal. Your other senses might even begin to change. How much energy is left for eyesight, for example, if your brain is using so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your last eye exam was good, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
It is easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you need to keep cranking the volume up. It can be difficult to hear the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. There are other things such as the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. Your hearing may be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
Luckily, if your hearing is failing, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to make an appointment.