You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, it was frustrating 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. What’s the story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe 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 issue goes beyond just your ears. Research reveals that even minor hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, cognitive decline, and even depression. You could have a manageable 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. Honestly, it can be extremely frustrating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Discover more about hearing loss
Finding out a little bit more about what you’re coping with is a practical place to start. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can erode the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Another potential cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we grow older. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which causes harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- You regularly feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been dealing with any of these signs! Feeling detached from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.
Managing hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have seen you having a difficult time hearing. It might seem like a challenging talk but it’s a very important one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing examination should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Try to get a family member to go along with you to your exam. A supportive, calming presence can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing exam will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to figure out your best course of action moving forward. Typically, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your lifestyle since there are so many styles and options to choose from.
How to pick quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. You will probably need to test a few brands and models before you find the best fit for your specific taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound nowadays. They can identify the direction that sound is originating from, block out background noise, and even link to smartphones and computers. Different brands and types of hearing aids come with different features, so do some research to determine what features you require to better your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, also. They come in various snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they’re virtually invisible.
If you think you’re suffering from 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?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/