It isn’t like you just wake up one day, and suddenly can’t hear. Hearing loss, especially when it’s caused by aging, typically advances in degrees. Some signs appear earlier, though, and you don’t detect there is a problem right away.
These early developing symptoms progress very subtly. Recognizing them sooner is crucial to slow down the progression of hearing loss or other health problems related to aging. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be able to recognize if you have them. You might be developing hearing loss if you notice any of the following eight barely detectable indicators.
1. Some 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 messed up. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is less clear to you because the pitch is higher. You might have the same problem with your grandchild or daughter. Even higher pitched tones such as the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You avoid phone calls
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t answer the phone when it rings:
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m simply 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 someone else test the phone for you. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are probably the issue.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It used to be just the kids, but lately, the woman on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your partner all seem like they are mumbling when they talk to you. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? How you hear words is changing. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the first signs that your hearing is going through changes.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
It might not be until someone points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Frequently, the first people to detect you are developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. If someone comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t really a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to ignore unless it’s disruptive. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are a significant factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. For instance, perhaps the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only manifests in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure could be the cause.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they might be a sign that you’re having a health problem.
6. It isn’t as fun attending the neighborhood block party
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what individuals say that much more difficult. 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 attempting to keep up with conversations is exhausting.
7. You feel more tired than usual
Battling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain needs to work harder to process what it can hear, so you are more fatigued than normal. Your other senses might even start to change. How much energy is left for eyesight, for instance, if your brain is using 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 tested is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to keep turning the volume on your TV up, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that out-dated TV. When you’re experiencing hearing loss it’s difficult 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 cope with. If you keep cranking up the volume, then your hearing might be failing.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure 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 make an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve detected any of the above signs.