You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier today when no one bothered to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be suffering from hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a problem for about 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even minor hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, dementia, and even depression. You might have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s just a sign of aging. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The fact is, if you can’t hear properly during your day-to-day life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Learn more about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re dealing with is a useful place to begin. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals due to the aging process. But for other people, it might be due to years of noise overexposure. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in loud traffic with the window down. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of sounds in the world.
Another potential source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we grow older. When you have conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to fail they don’t notice the signs:
- When people are having discussions, you continually feel excluded
- When there is background noise, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
If you notice any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling isolated from your world can result in depression and even social solitude.
Managing hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you working hard to keep up with conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It’s a crucial discussion even if it’s a challenging one. A hearing examination should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have observed you having a hard time hearing. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how extensive it has become. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to specify your best course of action moving forward. In the majority of instances, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many choices and features that you’re certain to find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
How to pick quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is different and we will help you figure out what treatment will be best for yours. You will probably need to try a few brands and models before you discover the best fit for your specific taste and hearing needs. Today’s hearing aids do so much more than just amplify sound. They can determine the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even link to smartphones and computers. Do some research to find out which brands and models provide the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you suspect you might be experiencing hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/