Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s related to aging, usually advances in degrees. You might not realize it’s occurring right away but some indicators do show up earlier.
The initial symptoms of progressive hearing loss are subtle. Delaying the progression of hearing loss and its related health problems 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. You may be developing hearing loss if you notice any of the following eight barely detectable indicators.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe you can understand the cashier perfectly, but when your wife chimes in on the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical messages to the brain.
Her voice is not as clear to you because it’s higher in pitch. You may have the same problem with your grandchild or daughter. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can throw a loop into things. 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:
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m just not used to it yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
Consider why you dislike using 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 are able to hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the issue.
3. Why is everybody mumbling?
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 are mumbling when they speak with you. If it seems like everyone 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. Mumbling or lost consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial indications that your hearing is changing.
4. What?
It might not be until somebody 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 observe you are having a hard time hearing. You should certainly pay attention if somebody says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t really a subtle indication, but it is something individuals tend to dismiss unless it’s distracting. A prevalent sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
Triggers are a significant factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. Maybe, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most noticeable ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory problems, or high blood pressure may be the cause.
It’s important that you don’t disregard these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something might be wrong, so you should make an appointment right away to get an exam.
6. Joining your friends at the neighborhood BBQ isn’t as fun
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many people are mumbling at the same time. It’s so much more difficult to make out what people are saying in loud settings. It becomes impossible for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC turning on or youngsters splashing and playing around the pool. And, you always feel fatigued from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You’re usually not this fatigued
Battling to understand words is draining. You feel more fatigued than normal because your brain has to work harder to try and interpret what it’s attempting to hear. Your other senses may even begin to change. 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 eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to have your hearing checked.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
When you have to constantly turn the volume on your TV up, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that out-dated TV. When you have hearing loss it’s difficult to hear dialog on your favorite shows. The background music and sound effects are confusing dialogue, for example. There are other things like the room AC or ceiling fan to cope with. Your hearing might be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for certain is a professional hearing assessment and if you find out your hearing is failing, hearing aids will help you get some of your hearing back.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
