You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier today when no one bothered to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be suffering from hearing loss?
As you get older hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And the problem goes beyond just your ears. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. You might have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s just an indication of aging. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be extremely aggravating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to start is finding out more about what you’re coping with. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But for others, it might be caused by years of noise overexposure. Noise-induced hearing loss can be a result of many noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of sounds in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as we age are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which causes harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- You regularly feel like you are being excluded from the conversations
- Struggling to understand words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
If you notice any of these hearing loss indicators, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling separated from your world can result in depression and even social solitude.
Create a plan to treat hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a difficult time hearing. It’s an important conversation even if it’s a difficult one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, particularly if people have observed you having a difficult time hearing. Try to get a loved one to go along with you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing exam will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to figure out your best plan going forward. In the majority of cases, that will entail getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
How to pick quality hearing aids
We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to test a few brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound these days. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to find out which brands and models come with the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Also, don’t forget to think about styles. Some models have no color and are nearly invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you suspect you might be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your cranky state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
