You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one took the time to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?
Maybe the real issue is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for roughly 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you might believe is just a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be extremely aggravating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to start is learning more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to lots of people as a result of the aging process. But for other people, it may be caused by years of noise overexposure. Noise-related hearing loss can be caused by lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in loud traffic with the window down. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.
Another possible cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we age. When you have disorders that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People generally don’t detect when their hearing begins to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- When people are having discussions, you continually feel excluded
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- Struggling to comprehend words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
Obviously, you’d be cranky if you’ve been dealing with any of these signs! Depression and social solitude can be the consequence of feeling separated from your world.
Create a plan to treat hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It may seem like a difficult conversation but it’s a very important one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, especially if people have noticed you having a hard time hearing. Try to get a loved one to go along with you to your exam. A supportive, calming friend can be most helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how extensive it has become. If hearing loss is identified, we will advise the next course of action for you depending on the results of the test. Normally, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
How to select quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you determine what treatment will be best for yours. You will probably need to try a number of brands and models before you determine the best fit for your specific taste and hearing requirements. Today’s hearing aids do so much more than just amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to determine which brands and models come with the features that will best fit your lifestyle and needs.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, too. They come in various fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they’re practically invisible.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you think you could be suffering with hearing loss. 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/