Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. For most people, hearing loss comes in degrees, particularly when it is associated with the aging process. Some indicators show up earlier, though, and you don’t realize there is an issue immediately.
The early symptoms of progressive hearing loss are discrete. Identifying them sooner is essential to slow down the development of hearing loss or other health issues associated with aging. However, you’re unable to detect the signs if you don’t know what they are. Consider these eight barely detectable indicators that you may have hearing loss.
1. Some voices you can’t hear very well, others you can
Maybe when you speak with your brother, you can hear him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a common sign of sensorineural hearing loss or damage to the nerves that deliver electrical signals to the brain.
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it’s unclear. You might have the same problem with your grandchild or daughter. Even higher pitched tones such as the phone ringing or alarm clock can get lost. Those are also high pitched tones.
2. You avoid phone calls
It’s easy to make excuses for why you don’t pick up the phone when it rings:
- I get tons of spam calls – that’s probably what it is
- It’s a brand new phone, and I’m simply not used to it yet
You dread talking on the phone, but why? It will be a useful idea to get someone else to check the phone for you if the volume is all the way up and you still can’t hear what the other person is saying. If they can hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are likely the issue.
3. Why does everybody mumble these days?
It used to be just the kids, but as of late, the woman on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your spouse all seem like they are mumbling when they speak with you. It’s hard to imagine that everyone in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a strong indication of hearing decline. You’re not hearing words the same as you once did. One of the first signs that something is happening with your hearing is when it sounds like people are mumbling and consonants like “S” and “T” are getting lost.
4. What?
It may not be until someone points out that you’re saying “what?” a lot that you recognize you are developing hearing loss. Frequently, the first people to detect you are developing hearing loss are the people you see every day, like family and coworkers. You should certainly pay attention if someone says something.
5. What’s that ringing in my ears?
Okay, this isn’t exactly a subtle sign, but it is something people tend to ignore unless it’s disruptive. 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, it could also be a symptom of high blood pressure, circulatory problems, or trauma.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms you should schedule an appointment for an exam because they could be an indication that you’re having a health issue.
6. Meeting your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as enjoyable
It’s no fun when it sounds as if that many people are mumbling all at once. It’s so much more difficult to understand what people are saying in noisy places. It becomes impossible for you to hear anything when you’re around something as basic as the AC turning on or kids splashing and playing around the pool. And trying to keep up with conversations is exhausting.
7. You feel more fatigued than usual
Struggling to understand words is draining. You feel more tired than normal because your brain needs to work harder to try and interpret what it’s attempting to hear. You may even notice changes in your other senses. 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 eyes have tested fine, now it’s time to get your ears assessed.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to keep turning the volume on your TV up, it becomes all too easy to place the blame on your service provider or that out-dated TV. It can be difficult to follow the dialogue on your favorite shows when you’re dealing with hearing loss. Dialogue is being muddled by background music and sound effects. There are other things such as the room AC or ceiling fan to deal with. If you keep turning the volume up, then your hearing could be failing.
The good thing is, if your hearing is failing, hearing aids can help, you just need to have your hearing tested.
If you experience any of the above signs of hearing loss, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.