Bananas don’t taste the same as they once did. There are rather different varieties of bananas being cultivated nowadays by banana farmers. These new bananas sprout faster, are more robust, and can prosper in a wider range of climates. They don’t taste the same either. So how did this change occur without us noticing? Well, the reality is that it developed slowly, over time. You never noticed the gradual switch.
The same thing can happen with your ears and hearing loss. It isn’t like all of a sudden your hearing is totally gone. For the majority of individuals, hearing loss progresses slowly, often so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s happening.
Early treatment can really help preserve your hearing so that’s an unfortunate truth. You can take measures to protect your hearing if you recognize that it’s in danger. So it’s a good plan to keep an eye out for these seven signs of waning hearing.
You should have your hearing evaluated if you notice any of these 7 indicators
Hearing loss develops slowly and over time, but it isn’t always well understood. It’s not like you’ll go to a noisy rock concert and the next day find yourself completely unable to hear. Recurring exposure to loud noise over a long period of time gradually results in noticeable hearing loss. The sooner you deal with your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. Untreated hearing loss has been connected to an increased danger of issues like dementia, social isolation, and depression, so it’s not something you want to mess around with.
These seven signs are what you should be paying attention to out for. The only way to know for sure is to get a hearing test, but these indicators may encourage you to schedule an appointment earlier than you otherwise would have.
Sign #1: You’re continuously cranking up the volume
Do you find yourself constantly reaching for the volume controls? Maybe they’re mixing the sound on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have started to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not likely) that you’re hearing is gradually degrading, and that you’re increasing the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
This is especially the case if your family has also regularly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They will often notice your hearing loss before you become aware of it.
Sign #2: You failed to hear the doorbell (or a phone call)
It could be an indication that you’re having hearing issues if you are constantly missing day to day sounds. Here are a few common sounds you may be missing:
- Your doorbell (or someone knocking on the door): When your best friend suddenly walks into your house, consider the possibility that they did in fact knock, you simply missed it.
- Timers and alarms: Did you sleep through your alarm clock ringing? Did the dinner get overcooked? It may not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is not loud enough.
- Your phone: Are you failing to get text messages? You’re more likely to miss text messages than calls since no one makes calls nowadays.
If your family and friends have stated that they’re kind of afraid of driving with you because you miss so many day to day sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck in reverse), that could be a sign that it’s time for a hearing assessment.
Sign #3: You keep asking people to repeat what they said
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most commonly used words? If you’re always needing people to repeat what they said, it’s very, very possible it’s not because of them, it’s because of you (and your hearing). This is especially true if people do repeat themselves and you still can’t hear what they say. Seems like a hearing test is in order.
Sign #4: Is everyone starting to mumble?
This one goes pretty well with #3 and we may even call it #3-A. If it sounds as if everybody around you is constantly mumbling or saying something under their breath, the reality is… well, they probably aren’t. That may be a relief (it’s no fun to be surrounded by people who you think are mumbling things about you). The reality is that you’re just not hearing them because of your loss of hearing.
If you’re trying to talk to somebody in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially true.
Sign #5: Loved ones keep suggesting you have your hearing tested
Your family and friends most likely know you pretty well. And some of them probably have healthy hearing. It’s a smart idea to listen to your family members (particularly the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
We get that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this advice away. Maybe you feel like they just caught you on a bad day or something. But you could give your hearing an advantage by taking their advice.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance problems
Ringing in your ears is a condition called tinnitus. It’s incredibly common. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you have hearing loss:
- Damage can trigger both: Damage triggers both tinnitus and hearing loss. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to develop both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Tinnitus is more pronounced when you have hearing loss: In your typical day-to-day life, tinnitus can be overpowered by the everyday noises you experience. But as those everyday noises fade to the background (as a result of hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes relatively louder and substantially more noticeable.
In either case, if you’re experiencing loud ringing, or even dizziness and vertigo, it could be an indication that something is happening in your ears. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing assessment.
Sign #7: You feel exhausted after social engagement
Maybe the reason why social situations have become so tiring is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it might be possible that you’re not hearing as clearly as you used to.
Your hearing may be the reason why you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. Your brain is attempting to fill in the holes that you can’t hear. This extra effort by your brain can leave you feeling depleted. So you may experience even more fatigue when you’re in an especially noisy setting.
The first step is getting in touch with us for an appointment
The truth is that we all encounter some hearing damage in our lifetimes. If or when you develop hearing loss is heavily dependent on how well you safeguard your ears when you’re exposed to loud noise.
So if you’ve encountered any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get evaluated! The sooner your hearing loss is diagnosed, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.
