Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s related to aging, typically progresses in degrees. You may not realize it’s taking place immediately but some indicators do appear earlier.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Recognizing them sooner is crucial to slow down the progression of hearing loss or other health issues related to aging. But if you don’t know what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. Consider these eight barely noticeable signs that you may have hearing loss.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical indication that the nerves that transmit signals to the brain are damaged (known as 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, too.
2. You avoid phone conversations
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t pick up the phone when it rings:
- It’s most likely just spam
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
You dread talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume all the way up and can’t hear what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the issue.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It seems as if it’s no longer only the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your partner, and even your bartender. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the probability of that? How you hear words is changing. One of the first signs that something is happening with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are getting lost.
4. What?
It might not be until somebody points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you recognize you are developing hearing loss. Frequently the people you see every day like coworkers or family are the first to observe that you’re having a hard time hearing. You should certainly pay attention if someone says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
This sign is a bit more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to disregard it. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
Triggers are an important factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Perhaps, when you first get up in the morning is when you have the most noticeable ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be an indication of high blood pressure, circulatory problems, or trauma.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should make an appointment for an exam because they may be an indication that you’re having a health issue.
6. It’s not as enjoyable going to the neighborhood block party
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. Also, being in loud settings makes understanding what people say that much harder. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC turning on or youngsters splashing and playing in the pool. And attempting to focus in on conversations is exhausting.
7. You’re usually not this worn out
It’s laborious when you struggle to understand words. Your brain has to work overtime 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 eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to get your ears checked.
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 hard to follow 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 declining, hearing aids can help, you just need to get a hearing test.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, contact us today to schedule an appointment.