You aren’t quite sure why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one took the time 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 irritated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be battling with hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a problem for about 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you may presume is simply 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 aggravating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to start is discovering more about what you’re coping with. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But for others, it may be caused by years of noise overexposure. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, including mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of noises in the world.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more prevalent with age. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which can cause harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- When individuals are conversing, you continually feel excluded
- You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
- When there’s background noise, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
If you detect any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Feeling separated from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.
Managing hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you struggling to keep up with conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It’s a crucial discussion even if it’s a difficult one. A hearing test should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have noticed you having a hard time hearing. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be really helpful.
Your hearing test will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. If hearing loss is identified, we will advise the next course of action for you based on the results of the exam. In the majority of instances, that will entail 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 pick from.
Deciding on quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you discover what treatment will be best for yours. You will probably need to test a few brands and models before you determine the best fit for your particular taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound these days. They can pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from, block out background noise, 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.
And, don’t forget to consider styles. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your cranky state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/