You aren’t quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier this morning when no one bothered to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming irritated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be suffering from hearing loss?
As you age hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, dementia, and even depression. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply an indication of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t exclude you from the conversation after all, perhaps you missed critical conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. The fact is, if you can’t hear very well during your everyday life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to begin is discovering more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals as a result of the aging process. But for other people, it might be caused by years of noise overexposure. 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 hearing loss. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more common as we age are a possible factor as well. When you have conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
Naturally, you’d be cranky if you’ve been coping with any of these signs! Depression and social isolation can be the result of feeling separated from your world.
Treating hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you working hard 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. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing test should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Try to get a family member to accompany you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing examination will not only help to verify your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to figure out your best course of action going forward. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. You’ll certainly be able to get a set of hearing aids that will best fit your lifestyle since there are so many styles and options to pick from.
How to pick quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is unique 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 may require testing a few styles and models. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and types of hearing aids have different features, so do some research to find out what features you need to improve your life.
Also, don’t forget to think about styles. Some models have no color and are nearly invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you think you may be suffering with hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that grumpy mindset and we can help!
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/