It may seem like it would be obvious, but hearing loss will be slow, so how does someone know if they have it? There’s no stinging pain to serve as a warning signal. You don’t collapse or make unnecessary trips to the toilet when it happens, either. It is safe to say the symptoms of hearing loss are more subtle than other age-related illnesses like diabetes or heart disease.
Nevertheless, there are indications if you know what you’re looking for. It is a matter of paying attention to the way you hear and the impact any change could be having in your life. Consider some ways you’re able to pinpoint hearing loss for you or somebody you care about.
A Change in Communication
The effect on socialization offers a number of the most telling indications. As an example, if the first thing from your mouth through most conversations is “what?” That should be a sign you are not comprehending words easily. Questioning people that you talk to repeat what they said is something they are likely to detect before you do, too, so listen to how folks react to having discussions with you.
When speaking to a group of two or more individuals, you may have difficulty keeping track of things. You are missing pieces of what each person says, so you aren’t part of the conversation. You can’t ask everyone talking to repeat themselves, either, so you just get lost. As time passes, you hide from group discussions or stand there not listening to what’s stated, because it is just too confusing when you do.
The Background Noise Takes Over
If all you hear these days is background sound, then it is time for a hearing test. This is a common sign of hearing loss because you’re no longer able to filter out sounds just like a fan blowing or an air conditioner running. It gets to the point where you can not hear what folks are saying for you because it becomes lost in the background sound.
The TV Volume Creeps Up and Upward
It’s easy to blame the need to turn the TV volume up on this dying set because of a busy room, but when it happens all the time, it’s most likely an indication of gradual hearing loss. When everyone else starts complaining that you’ve got the TV or computer volume too loud, you should wonder why this really is, and, likely, come to terms with the fact that your hearing isn’t as good as it was once.
You End up Seeing Their Mouth
Lip reading is a coping skill for missed words. Gradual hearing loss begins with the loss of tough sounds. Words which contain specific letters will be faulty. Your mind might automatically shift your attention to the person’s lips to repair the issue. It is likely that you don’t even know you do it before someone tells you or unexpectedly acts uncomfortable when talking to you.
Tinnitus Starts to Take it’s Toll
The constant clicking or buzzing or the sound of breeze in your ears — this is called tinnitus, and it is a sign of significant hearing loss. These sounds are not real, but phantom noises that only you hear. For many people, they are just annoying, but for many others tinnitus is debilitating. If you’ve got that, then you surely have hearing loss that you need to address.
Hearing problems are not always obvious to the individual suffering from them, but it is to others. Listen to what your family is telling you about your hearing. Consider, too, other medical problems that may contribute to this problem such as hypertension or medication you take that can harm your ears and find out if age-related hearing loss runs in your family.
It’s like assembling the pieces of a puzzle. When you do come to this decision, visit your doctor and receive a professional hearing test for affirmation. Hearing loss is not the end of the world, but for most, it will imply it’s time to consider hearing aids.