You aren’t really sure why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one took the time to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was aggravating. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. What’s the story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be experiencing hearing loss?
As you age hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And the issue goes beyond only your ears. Research indicates that even slight hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. What you might believe is simply an indication of age, may actually be a treatable medical condition. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, perhaps you missed crucial conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be very frustrating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to begin is finding out more about what you’re dealing with. For many people, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But for other people, it may be due to years of noise overexposure. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by many noise sources, including 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 damaged by lots of sounds in the world.
Long-term diseases that become more prevalent as one grows older are a potential factor as well. When you have disorders that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to go they don’t notice the signs:
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
- Struggling to understand words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
If you detect any of these hearing loss indicators, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling detached from your world can trigger depression and even social solitude.
Treating hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have seen you having a hard time hearing. It may seem like a difficult conversation but it’s a very worthwhile one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing test should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Try to get a family member to accompany you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how significant it has become. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to specify your best plan going forward. Normally, hearing aids will be a major 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!
Deciding on quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to test a number of brands and models before you discover the best fit for your specific taste and hearing requirements. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and types of hearing aids offer different features, so research them to find out what features you need to improve your life.
And, remember to think about styles. Some models have no color and are nearly invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your cranky state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/