It isn’t like you simply wake up one day, and suddenly can’t hear. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s associated with aging, typically progresses in degrees. Some signs show up earlier, though, and you don’t detect there is a problem right away.
The early symptoms of progressive hearing loss are subtle. Identifying them sooner is essential to delay the development of hearing loss or other health problems connected to aging. But if you don’t know what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. You might be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely noticeable signs.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe you can hear the cashier just fine, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets messed up. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it isn’t as clear. You might not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can become a problem. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not answering:
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
You hate talking on the phone, but why? It will be a good idea to get someone else to check the phone for you if the volume is all the way up and you still aren’t able to hear what the other person is saying. You most likely have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everybody mumbling?
It used to be just the kids, but lately, the woman on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your spouse all seem like they are mumbling when they talk to you. It’s difficult to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has bad enunciation so this is a strong indication of hearing loss. You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial indications that your hearing is going through changes.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
You may not even realize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Frequently the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to detect you are struggling to hear. If someone comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to ignore unless it’s distracting. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are an important factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Maybe, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure may be the cause.
It’s important that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something might be wrong, so you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as enjoyable
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many individuals are mumbling at the same time. Also, being in loud settings makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as simple as youngsters playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it impossible to hear anything. And attempting to keep up with conversations is tedious.
7. You’re usually not this fatigued
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. You feel more fatigued than usual because your brain has to work harder to try and interpret what it’s trying to hear. You might even notice changes in your other senses. How much energy is left for eyesight, for example, if your brain is spending so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your most recent eye exam was normal, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to keep turning the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that old TV. It can be difficult to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are befuddling dialogue, for example. How about the other things in the room such as the AC or the ceiling fan? Your hearing might be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for certain is a professional hearing assessment and if you find out your hearing is failing, hearing aids will help you get some of your hearing back.
Call us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test if you’ve detected any of the above signs.