Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss happens in degrees, especially when it is linked to the aging process. Some signs appear earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is an issue right away.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Recognizing them sooner is crucial to delay the progression of hearing loss or other health problems related to aging. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be capable of recognizing if you have them. You may 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 you can hear the cashier perfectly, but when your wife chimes in on the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a typical indication that the nerves that transmit messages to the brain are damaged (called sensorineural hearing loss).
Her voice is not as clear to you because the pitch is higher. You may not be capable of hearing your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You don’t like to talk on the phone
When the phone rings you often make excuses for not answering:
- I’m simply not used to this new phone yet
- It’s most likely just spam
You hate talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume all the way up and can’t understand what is being said, let someone else test the phone for you. You most likely have a hearing loss issue if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why does everyone mumble these days?
It used to be just the kids, but lately, the lady on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your spouse all seem like they’re mumbling when they talk to you. It’s hard to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has bad enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing decline. How you hear words is changing. One of the first indications that something is going on with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are dropping off.
4. You’re saying “what?” a lot
It might not be until someone points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Very often the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to notice you are struggling to hear. You should definitely pay attention if somebody says something.
5. Why do I hear ringing noises in my ears?
This sign is a bit more obvious, but unless it becomes a distraction, people tend to disregard it. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Triggers are a significant factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Perhaps, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most noticeable ringing or buzzing. Or, it could also be a sign of high blood pressure, circulatory issues, or trauma.
It’s crucial that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something may be wrong, so you should schedule an appointment right away to get checked out.
6. Joining your friends at the neighborhood BBQ isn’t as fun
Once again, there are those mumbling people, and that’s not fun. It’s so much more difficult to understand what people are saying in loud places. Something as basic as children playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC kicking on you makes it impossible to hear anything. And attempting to keep up with conversations is exhausting.
7. You feel more worn out than normal
Battling to understand words is exhausting. Your brain needs to work harder to process what it can hear, so you are more tired than normal. You may even experience changes in your other senses. If your brain is utilizing 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left for your eyesight or balance? If your last eye test was normal, then the next thing to get tested is your ears.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
It is easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you need to keep cranking up the volume. It can be hard to hear the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. There are other things like the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. If you keep turning the volume up, then your hearing may be failing.
Luckily, if your hearing is failing, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
Call us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve noticed any of the above signs.