Bananas don’t taste the same as they once did. That’s because modern banana farmers grow an exceptionally different variety of banana then they used to. Today’s banana can grow successfully in a wide variety of climates, are more resilient, and can grow faster. They don’t taste the same either. So why haven’t you detected the great banana swap? Well, the truth is that it happened slowly, over time. You never noticed the gradual change.
Hearing loss can happen in the same way. It isn’t like you wake up one day and can’t hear a thing. For the majority of people, hearing loss progresses slowly, often so slowly that you don’t really recognize what’s taking place.
Early treatment can really help maintain your hearing so that’s a regrettable truth. You can take measures to safeguard your hearing if you recognize that it’s in danger. So it’s a good plan to be on the lookout for these seven signs of waning hearing.
You should get your hearing evaluated if you exhibit any of these 7 indicators
Hearing loss isn’t always well understood as it happens gradually over time. It isn’t as if you’ll be totally unable to hear the day after you went to that big rock concert. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) increases over time. The sooner you manage your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. You shouldn’t put off on this because neglected hearing loss has been connected to issues such as social separation, depression, and dementia.
You should, uh, watch out for these seven indications that you might be experiencing hearing loss. A hearing exam is the only way to know, but maybe these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re continually turning up the volume
Do you find yourself continuously reaching for the volume controls? Sure, possibly it’s just that all of your favorite actors and artists have started mumbling, or that the sound mixing on TV shows is dramatically different than it was before. But it’s also possible (if not probable) that you’re hearing is gradually degrading, and that you’re raising the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
If others keep telling you the TV is too high this is particularly likely. They can usually recognize hearing trouble in you faster than you can.
Sign #2: You failed to hear the phone ringing (or the doorbell)
It could be an indication that you’re having hearing problems if you are continuously missing day to day sounds. A few of the most common sounds you might miss include:
- Somebody knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell: You thought your friend just walked into your house but actually missed his knocks.
- Timers and alarms: Did you sleep through your alarm clock? Did the dinner get burned? It might not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you missed them? You’re more likely to miss text messages than calls since no one makes calls nowadays.
If your family and friends have mentioned that they’re a little afraid of driving with you because you miss so many everyday sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck in reverse), that could be a sign that it’s time for a hearing assessment.
Sign #3: You’re constantly needing people to repeat themselves
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? It’s likely that it’s an issue with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they talk to you. If people do repeat what they said and you still can’t hear them this is particularly relevant. Looks like a hearing test is needed.
Sign #4: Is everybody starting to mumble?
You could also call this sign #3-A, because they go pretty well together. If it sounds as if everybody around you is continuously mumbling or talking under their breath, the reality is… well, they probably aren’t. It’s stressful to always think people are mumbling about you, so it might be a relief to learn they’re actually not. The reality is that you’re just not hearing them due to your hearing loss.
This can be especially noticeable if you’re trying to listen to someone who has a higher pitched voice, or if you have to have a conversation in a noisy space, such as a restaurant.
Sign #5: Family members prompt you to get a hearing test (or get hearing aids)
Your family and friends most likely know you pretty well. It’s likely that at least some of them have fairly healthy hearing. If your family members (particularly younger) are telling you that something isn’t right with your hearing, it’s a good idea to listen to them (no pun intended).
It’s understandable that you would want to rationalize away this proposal. Possibly you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But taking their advice could maintain the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
Ringing in your ears is a condition known as tinnitus. It’s really common. When you’re dealing with hearing loss, your tinnitus can become severe for a couple of reasons:
- Both can be caused by damage: Damage triggers both tinnitus and loss of hearing. So you’re more likely to develop tinnitus and hearing loss the more damaged your hearing is.
- Tinnitus is more obvious when you have hearing loss: In your ordinary day-to-day life, tinnitus can be overpowered by the everyday noises you encounter. But as those everyday noises fade to the background (due to hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes relatively louder and significantly more noticeable.
It could be a sign that you’re dealing with problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling depleted
Perhaps you’ve always been an introvert at heart, and that’s why social interactions have grown totally draining. Or it might be possible that you’re not hearing as clearly as you used to.
Your hearing could be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social event. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain tries overtime to fill in those holes. This additional effort by your brain can leave you feeling depleted. So you might experience even more exhaustion when you’re in a particularly noisy setting.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage in our lifetimes. Just how much (and how often you were using hearing protection) may have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss in the first place.
So if you’ve experienced any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Luckily, you can take matters into your own hands and call us for an appointment. The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to receive treatment.