It’s not like you just wake up one day, and your hearing is gone. For most people, hearing loss progresses in degrees, particularly when it is linked to aging. Some signs appear earlier, though, and you don’t recognize there is an issue immediately.
These early developing symptoms advance very subtly. Recognizing them sooner is essential to delay the progression of hearing loss or other health issues connected to aging. However, you’re unable to detect the signs if you have no clue what they are. You might be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely detectable signs.
1. Certain voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you speak with your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is less clear to you because the pitch is higher. You might 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 are also high pitched tones.
2. You avoid phone calls
When the phone rings you tend to make excuses for not picking it up:
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
- I’m simply not used to this brand new phone yet
Contemplate why you dislike talking on your phone. If you have the volume at max and can’t understand 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 likely the problem.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It used to be just the kids, but lately, the lady on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your partner all seem like they’re mumbling when they speak with you. If it seems like everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the likelihood of that? The way you hear words is changing. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial signs that your hearing is going through changes.
4. What?
You might not even recognize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Often, the first people to notice you are developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. You should certainly pay attention if somebody says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something individuals tend to dismiss unless it’s disruptive. Tinnitus, the medical name for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss.
Triggers are an important factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Perhaps, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a sign of high blood pressure, circulatory issues, or trauma.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they could be a sign that you’re having a health problem.
6. It isn’t as fun going to the neighborhood block party
Again, there are those people mumbling, and that’s not fun. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what people say that much more difficult. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC kicking in or children splashing and playing in the pool. And trying to keep up with conversations is tedious.
7. You feel more fatigued than normal
Struggling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain has to work overtime to process what it can hear, so you are more fatigued than usual. Your other senses might even start to change. If your brain is utilizing 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 ears assessed.
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 turning the volume up. It can be difficult to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. Dialogue is being muddled 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.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing exam and if it turns out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get some of your hearing back.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve experienced any of the above signs.