Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, especially when it’s caused by aging, generally advances in degrees. You might not recognize it’s occurring immediately but some signs do show up earlier.
These early developing symptoms progress very discreetly. Delaying the development of hearing loss and its related health challenges is a matter of early detection. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be able to recognize if you have them. Contemplate these eight barely detectable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is less clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You may 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 avoid phone calls
When the phone rings you tend to make excuses for not answering:
- It’s a new phone, and I’m simply not used to it yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
You dread talking on the phone, but why? It will be a useful idea to get someone else to test the phone for you if the volume is all the way up and you still can’t hear what the other person is saying. You probably have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everyone 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 speak with you. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re probably dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. 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?
You might not even realize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until someone 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 observe 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 really a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to ignore unless it’s distracting. Tinnitus, the medical name for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss.
Tinnitus can also be intermittent because triggers are a significant factor. Maybe, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most significant ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a symptom of high blood pressure, circulatory issues, or trauma.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they may be a sign that you’re having a health issue.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as enjoyable
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many people are mumbling at the same time. Also, being in noisy places makes understanding what people say that much harder. It becomes impossible for you to hear anything when you’re in the presence of something as basic as the AC turning on or youngsters splashing and playing around the pool. And trying to keep up with conversations is exhausting.
7. You’re normally not this exhausted
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. Your brain has to work harder to process what it does hear, so you are more tired than usual. You might even experience changes in your other senses. If your brain is using 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left over for your eyesight or balance? If your eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to get your hearing checked.
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. It can be hard to hear 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 stuff in the room such as the AC or the ceiling fan? Your hearing may be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing exam and if you find out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
Call us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test if you’ve noticed any of the above signs.