You’re not quite sure why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, it was irritating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at work. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be battling with hearing loss?
Hearing loss is an issue for around 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And the problem goes beyond only your ears. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. You might have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely an indication of aging. Perhaps, you missed essential 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 everyday life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re coping with is a useful place to start. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to excessively loud sound can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of sounds in the world.
Long-term diseases that become more common as one grows older are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which can cause harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People normally take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to go they don’t recognize the signs:
- Struggling to hear words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
- You regularly feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
Obviously, you’d be cranky if you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms! Feeling isolated from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.
Treating hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask family and friends if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It may seem like a challenging discussion but it’s a very important one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing exam should be your next step and will clarify things for you. Try to get a family member to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. If hearing loss is established, we will advise the next strategy for you depending on the results of the exam. In most instances, that will involve getting hearing aids. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to choose from.
How to select quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. Take some to time determine the right brand and model for your needs, this may require testing a few styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do a lot more than just amplify sound. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction of a sound. Different brands and types of hearing aids offer different features, so research them to find out what features you need to better your life.
Also, don’t forget to consider styles. They come in various fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they’re practically invisible.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your cranky state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/