You aren’t really sure why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier today when no one bothered to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was aggravating. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming frustrated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?
Maybe the real problem is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is an issue for roughly 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even mild hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. You could have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s just 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 very frustrating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Discover more about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re dealing with is a practical place to begin. For many people, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But for other people, it might be due to years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can erode the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more prevalent as we age. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which causes damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People normally take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to go they don’t recognize the signs:
- Struggling to understand words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
- When individuals are conversing, you continually feel excluded
Naturally, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been dealing with any of these signs! Depression and social solitude can be the outcome of feeling separated from your world.
Managing hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you struggling to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too frequently. It’s a crucial conversation even if it’s a difficult one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing exam should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing exam will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to determine your best course of action moving forward. Usually, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. Don’t stress, there are so many choices and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
How to select quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is different and we will help you discover what treatment will be best for yours. Take some to time choose the right brand and model for your needs, this might require testing a few styles and models. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can determine the direction that sound is originating from, block out background noise, and even connect to smartphones and computers. Do some research to determine which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. They come in many snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are nearly invisible.
Schedule a hearing test with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you believe you may be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/