Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most individuals, hearing loss comes in degrees, particularly when it is linked to the aging process. You may not recognize it’s occurring immediately but some signs do show up earlier.
These early developing symptoms advance very subtly. Identifying them sooner is crucial to slow down the development of hearing loss or other health issues associated with aging. However, you’re unable to recognize the signs if you don’t know what they are. Consider these eight barely detectable signs that you may have hearing loss.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Perhaps you can understand the cashier perfectly, but when your wife joins the conversation, everything gets muddled. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that distribute electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is not as clear to you because the pitch is higher. You may not be able to hear your daughter or grandchild very well for the same reason. Even technology like the microwave or an alarm can become a problem. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You avoid phone calls
When the phone rings you are inclined to make excuses for not answering:
- I get tons of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m just not used to it yet
You dread talking on the phone, but why? If you have the volume all the way up and can’t understand what is being said, let a friend test the phone for you. You probably have a hearing loss problem if you can’t hear the voice but your friend can.
3. Why is everyone mumbling?
It seems as if it’s no longer just the kids who are mumbling when they speak, it’s your neighbor, the news woman, your spouse, and even your bartender. It’s difficult to imagine that everyone in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a good indication of hearing decline. You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. One of the first indications that something is happening 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
You may not even recognize that you can’t hear conversations anymore until somebody points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Very often the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to observe that you’re having a hard time hearing. If someone comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
This sign is a bit more obvious, but unless it becomes a distraction, people tend to ignore it. A common sign of hearing loss is a ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus.
Tinnitus can also be intermittent because triggers are a significant factor. Perhaps, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most noticeable ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure might be the cause.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they might be an indication that you’re having a health problem.
6. It’s not as fun going to the neighborhood get-together
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many people are mumbling all at once. Also, being in noisy settings makes understanding what individuals say that much more difficult. Something as simple as youngsters playing and splashing around in the pool or the sound of the AC coming on you makes it extremely tough to hear anything. And trying to focus in on conversations is exhausting.
7. You’re usually not this exhausted
Battling to understand words is draining. You feel more fatigued than normal because your brain needs to work harder to try and interpret what it’s trying to hear. Your other senses may even start 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 ears checked.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
It is easy to blame your old TV or the service provider when you need to keep turning up the volume. It can be hard to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. The background music and sound effects are confusing dialogue, for example. What about the other stuff in the room such as the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep cranking the volume up, then your hearing could be failing.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for certain is a professional hearing assessment and if it turns out your hearing is failing, hearing aids will help you get some of your hearing back.
Call us today to make an appointment for a hearing test if you’ve experienced any of the above signs.