Bananas taste a lot different then they did in the past. That’s because today’s banana farmers grow a really different variety of banana then they used to. These new bananas sprout faster, are more robust, and can thrive in a wider range of climates. They don’t taste the same either. So how did this change take place without us noticing? Well, the change wasn’t a rapid one. The change was so slow you never noticed.
The same thing can take place with your ears and hearing loss. It isn’t like all of a sudden your hearing is entirely gone. For the majority of individuals, hearing loss advances slowly, often so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s taking place.
That’s regrettable because early treatment can help preserve your hearing. You can take steps to protect your hearing if you recognize that it’s at risk. That’s why it may be important to watch for these seven indications your hearing could be waning.
You should have your hearing tested if you exhibit any of these 7 indicators
Hearing loss takes place slowly and over time, but it isn’t always well understood. It’s not like you’ll be totally incapable of hearing the day after you went to that big rock show. Recurring exposure to loud noise over a long period of time gradually leads to noticeable hearing loss. So monitoring your hearing early will be the best way to protect it. You shouldn’t put off on this because neglected hearing loss has been linked to issues like social separation, depression, and dementia.
These seven signs are what you should be paying attention to out for. A hearing test is the only way to know, but maybe these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re continually turning the volume up
Are you constantly cranking up the volume on your devices? Sure, possibly it’s just that all of your favorite actors and artists have started mumbling, or that the audio mixing on TV shows is drastically different than it used to be. But it’s more likely that you’re compensating for your increasing hearing loss by cranking the volume up on your devices.
This is especially the situation if your family has also constantly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They can often recognize hearing trouble in you faster than you can.
Sign #2: You didn’t hear your phone ringing (or the doorbell)
If you’re continuously missing some day to day sounds, that might be an indication of trouble with your ears. Here are a few common sounds you may be missing:
- Somebody knocking on your door or ringing your doorbell: You thought your friend unexpectedly walked into your house but actually missed him knocking.
- Alarms and timers: Did you sleep through your alarm clock? Did the dinner get overcooked? It might not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Are you failing to get text messages? You’re more likely to miss text messages than phone calls since no one makes calls these days.
If your loved ones have pointed out that they’re kind of afraid of driving with you because you’re missing so many day to day sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck backing up), that could be an indication that it’s time for a hearing exam.
Sign #3: You keep needing people to repeat what they said
Are your most commonly used words “what?” or “pardon?”? It’s likely that it’s a problem with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they’re talking with you. This is especially true if people do repeat what they said and you still can’t hear what they say. Definitely, time to get a hearing assessment.
Sign #4: It sounds like everyone’s always mumbling
This one goes pretty well with #3 and we may even call it #3-A. You should recognize that people probably aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it seem like this. It’s stressful to always think people are mumbling about you, so it might be a comfort to learn they’re actually not. The reality is that you’re simply not hearing them due to your hearing loss.
If you’re attempting to talk to someone in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially relevant.
Sign #5: Family members prompt you to take a hearing test (or get hearing aids)
Your family and friends probably know you quite well. And some of them probably have healthy hearing. If your members of your family (particularly younger) are informing you that something is wrong with your hearing, it’s a good plan to listen to them (no pun intended).
We get that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this recommendation away. Possibly you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But heeding their advice could maintain the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
When you have ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition called tinnitus. It’s very common. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you have hearing loss:
- Damage can cause both: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be caused by damage. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Hearing loss can make tinnitus more pronounced: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your daily life. But as those everyday noises recede to the background (as a result of hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes comparatively louder and significantly more noticeable.
It could be a sign that you’re dealing with issues with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance problems and vertigo. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing assessment.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling fatigued
Perhaps the reason why social situations have become so exhausting is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it might be possible that you’re not hearing as well as you used to.
When you leave a restaurant or a social affair feeling completely depleted, your hearing (or lack thereof) might be the reason why. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain tries really hard to fill in those holes. This extra effort by your brain can leave you feeling depleted. So when you’re in particularly strenuous situations (such as a noisy space), you may experience even more fatigue.
Start by coming to see us
Honestly, hearing damage is common to everybody to some degree. If or when you develop hearing loss has a lot to do with how well you safeguard your ears when you’re exposed to loud sound.
So it might be an indication that the banana is changing if you encounter any of these signs. Thankfully, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get tested! The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.