Signs of Hearing Loss
November 15, 2016People view hearing loss as a problem faced primarily by the elderly. However, the decline in hearing capacity occurs long before old age since it is a gradual process, thus it may be likely that you may experience hearing loss for years before you start to notice it. Hearing loss primarily impacts those who are 65 years of age or older, and although old age is considered to be a common factor in hearing loss, one in three elderly adults have some form of hearing impairment, thus it is important to begin to check for signs of hearing loss at an earlier age.
Most people find the loss of hearing to be annoying and frustrating since you constantly miss out on important moments and conversations. You may even have trouble understanding your doctor’s advice, difficulty in hearing alarms, and trouble coping up with daily conversations within the family.
Hearing loss usually starts out small and can be difficult to detect since you can mostly hear what is happening within your surroundings. Consider the following factors to determine whether you may be suffering from hearing loss.
Those with hearing loss often miss out on part of a regular conversation when they’re a part of a large crowd. Listening can become a challenge in the presence of background noise. People with hearing loss often ask others to repeat what they just said, and may feel as though everyone around them is either talking too quickly or at a hushed volume. Hearing impairment can lead to difficulty in hearing high-pitched sounds or low, dull noises. Ringing in the ears is also a common sign of hearing loss. Hearing loss can cause people to turn their head to a certain side depending on which ear they can hear better with. Others around you may complain that your television is too loud even though it seems fine to you. You may feel stressed and tired often simply after listening to a conversation, and may feel too embarrassed to ask others to repeat themselves. Did any of these signs appear to apply to you? If so, you may be suffering from hearing loss and need to get your hearing tested by a professional audiologist.
Even though hearing cannot be restored back to its original state, modern technology enables you to compensate for your hearing loss through the use of hearing aids so that you can amplify the sounds around you to help you lead a normal, productive life with the gift of sound.