You’re not really certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, it was irritating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at the office. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming frustrated when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. What’s the deal with that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be experiencing hearing loss?
As you age hearing loss can take you by surprise and over 40 million people in the US suffer with it. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. What you might presume is just an indication of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be exceedingly frustrating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Learn more about hearing loss
Learning a little bit more about what you’re dealing with is a useful place to start. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to excessively loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, such as mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more common with age are a potential factor as well. When you have disorders that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- When people are having discussions, you always feel excluded
- Struggling to comprehend words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
If you detect any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social solitude can be the result of feeling separated from your world.
Create a plan to manage hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you struggling to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It may seem like a difficult discussion but it’s a very important one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, especially if people have noticed 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 test, we will be able to decide on your best course of action going forward. In the majority of cases, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. You will probably need to test a number of brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound these days. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to find out which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, also. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. It’s time to get out of that grumpy mindset and we can help!
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
