Your hearing won’t be simply gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, particularly when it’s caused by aging, typically progresses in degrees. You might not realize it’s occurring right away but some indicators do appear earlier.
These initially developing symptoms progress very discreetly. Delaying the development of hearing loss and its associated health problems is a matter of early detection. But if you don’t know 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 noticeable signs.
1. You hear some people just fine but not others
Maybe when you talk to your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a typical indication of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that send electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You might 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 tones are high, also.
2. You avoid phone calls
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t answer the phone when it rings:
- It’s a new phone, and I’m just not used to it yet
- I get a lot of spam calls – that’s most likely what it is
You hate talking on the phone, but why? 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 can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the issue.
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 partner all seem like they are mumbling when they talk to you. If it seems as if everybody in your life is mumbling, you’re most likely dealing with hearing loss, because what is the probability of that? The way you hear words is changing. Mumbling or dropped off consonants like “S” or “T” is one of the initial indications that your hearing is going through changes.
4. What?
It may not be until somebody points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you realize you are developing hearing loss. Often, the first people to notice you are developing hearing loss are the people you see on a daily basis, like family and coworkers. You should certainly pay attention if someone says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
This sign is a bit more obvious, but unless it becomes a disruption, people tend to disregard it. Tinnitus, the medical term for the ringing or buzzing in the ear, is a common symptom of hearing loss.
Triggers are a significant factor in tinnitus so it can be intermittent, too. For example, maybe the ringing, buzzing, or roaring only manifests in the morning or when you are tired. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure may be the cause.
It’s important that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s an indication that something could be wrong, so you should make an appointment as soon as possible to get checked out.
6. It’s not as enjoyable going to the neighborhood get-together
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many people are mumbling at the same time. Also, being in loud places makes understanding what people say that much harder. It becomes extremely difficult for you to hear anything when you’re in the presence of something as simple as the AC kicking in or youngsters splashing and playing around the pool. And, you always feel fatigued from trying to focus in on conversations.
7. You’re normally not this exhausted
It’s exhausting when you struggle to understand words. Your brain needs to work overtime to process what it does hear, so you are more tired than normal. Your other senses might even start to change. If your brain is using 110 percent of its time and energy to understand words, what’s left over for your eyesight or balance? If your last eye exam was good, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why can’t I hear this TV?
When you have to constantly turn the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that old 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 deal with. Your hearing may be failing if you constantly turn up the volume.
The good news is, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing exam and if it turns out your hearing is failing, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
Contact us today to make an appointment for a hearing assessment if you’ve noticed any of the above signs.
