Your hearing won’t be just gone one day when you wake up. Hearing loss, especially when it’s related to aging, typically advances in degrees. Some signs appear earlier, though, and you don’t recognize there is an issue immediately.
These initially developing symptoms progress very subtly. Identifying them sooner is essential to slow down the progression of hearing loss or other health problems related to aging. But if you are unaware of what the early symptoms are, you won’t be able to recognize if you have them. You might be developing hearing loss if you identify any of the following eight barely detectable signs.
1. You hear some people perfectly fine but not others
Maybe when you speak with your brother, you can understand him fine, but when your wife talks, some words just seem to get lost. It’s a common indication that the nerves that send signals to the brain are damaged (known as sensorineural hearing loss).
Her voice is higher in pitch, and that’s why it isn’t as clear. You may 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 don’t like to talk on the phone
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
- It’s probably just spam
You hate 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 at max and you still aren’t able to hear what the other person is saying. If they are able to hear the conversation and you can’t, your ears are probably the issue.
3. Why is everybody mumbling?
It used to be just the kids, but as of late, the lady on the TV news, the bartender, your neighbor, and your spouse all seem like they’re mumbling when they talk to you. It’s difficult to imagine that everybody in your life suddenly has poor enunciation so this is a strong indication of hearing loss. The way you hear words is changing. 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. What?
You might not even realize that you’re unable to hear conversations anymore until someone points out that you’re saying “What?” during conversations a lot. Frequently the people you see on a daily basis like coworkers or family are the first to notice you are having a hard time hearing. If somebody comments on it, you should pay attention.
5. Why do I hear ringing sounds in my ears?
This sign is somewhat 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 periodic, too. Maybe, when you first wake up in the morning is when you have the most pronounced ringing or buzzing. Or a trauma, circulatory issues, or high blood pressure could be the cause.
It’s important that you don’t ignore these tinnitus symptoms because it’s a sign that something could be wrong, so you should make an appointment as soon as possible to get an exam.
6. Joining your friends at the neighborhood barbecue isn’t as fun
It’s no fun when it sounds like that many individuals are mumbling at the same time. Also, being in noisy places makes understanding what people say that much harder. Something as basic as children 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 keep up with conversations is tedious.
7. You’re normally not this worn out
Battling to understand words is exhausting. You feel more tired than normal because your brain has to work harder to try and interpret what it’s attempting to hear. You may even notice changes in your other senses. How much energy is left for eyesight, for example, if your brain is using so much of its energy attempting to hear and understand words? If your most recent eye test was good, then the next thing to get checked is your ears.
8. Why is this TV volume so low?
When you have to constantly turn the volume up on your TV, it becomes all too easy to blame your service provider or that out-dated TV. It can be hard to hear the dialogue on your favorite shows when you have hearing loss. Dialogue is being jumbled by background music and sound effects. What about the other things in the room like the AC or the ceiling fan? If you keep turning the volume up, then your hearing might be failing.
Fortunately, all it takes to know for sure is a professional hearing assessment and if it turns out your hearing is declining, hearing aids will help you get back to normal.
If you notice any of the above signs of hearing loss, give us a call today to make an appointment.