Bananas taste much different then they did in the past. That’s because today’s banana farmers grow a really different type of banana then they used to. These new bananas grow faster, are more resilient, and can thrive in a wider range of climates. They don’t taste the same either. So why haven’t you noticed the great banana exchange? Well, the change wasn’t a quick one. The change was so slow you never noticed.
Hearing loss can happen in a similar way. It isn’t like you get up one day and can’t hear anything. For most individuals, hearing loss advances gradually, frequently so slowly that you don’t really recognize what’s taking place.
Early treatment can really help preserve your hearing so that’s an unfortunate truth. If you are aware that your hearing is at risk, for example, you may take more precautions to protect it. So it’s a good idea 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 signs
Hearing loss takes place gradually and over time, but it’s not always well understood. It’s not as if you’ll go to a noisy rock concert and the next day find yourself totally incapable of hearing. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) increases over time. The sooner you treat your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. Untreated hearing loss has been connected to an increased danger of issues including dementia, social solitude, and depression, so it’s not something you want to mess about with.
These seven indicators are what you should be paying attention to out for. A hearing test is the only way to be sure, but maybe these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You keep turning up the volume on your devices
Are you continually turning up the volume on your devices? Maybe they’re mixing the sound on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have started to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not likely) that you’re hearing is slowly 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 loud this is particularly likely. They can often spot hearing trouble in you sooner than you can.
Sign #2: You missed the doorbell (or a phone call)
It could be a sign that you’re having hearing issues if you are continuously missing day to day sounds. Here are some common sounds you could be missing:
- Your doorbell (or a knock on the door): When your good friend unexpectedly walks into your house, take into account the possibility that they did in fact knock, you just missed it.
- Timers and alarms: Did you sleep through your alarm clock ringing? Did the dinner get burned? It may not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is too quiet.
- Your phone: Are you failing to get text messages? You’re more likely to miss text messages than phone calls since nobody makes calls nowadays.
If your family and friends have mentioned that they’re kind of afraid of driving with you because you’re missing so many day to day sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck backing up), that could be an indication that it’s time for a hearing test.
Sign #3: You’re continuously needing people to repeat themselves
Are your most commonly used words “what?” or “pardon?”? It’s likely that it’s an issue with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat what they said when they’re talking with you. If people do repeat themselves and you still don’t hear them this is especially true. Definitely, time to schedule a hearing assessment.
Sign #4: Is everyone starting to mumble?
You could also call this sign #3-A, since they go rather well together. You should realize that people most likely aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it seem like this. That might be a relief (it’s no fun to be surrounded by people who you think are mumbling things about you). The reality is that you’re simply not hearing them because of your loss of hearing.
If you’re attempting to talk to somebody in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially true.
Sign #5: Loved ones keep suggesting you get your hearing tested
You most likely have a rather close relationship with your friends and family. And some of them most likely have healthy hearing. It’s a smart plan to listen to your family members (particularly the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
We get that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this advice away. Perhaps you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But taking their advice could preserve the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
When you’re experiencing ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition known as tinnitus. It’s incredibly 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 causes both tinnitus and loss of hearing. So you’re more likely to develop tinnitus and hearing loss the more damaged your hearing is.
- Hearing loss can make tinnitus more pronounced: In your normal day-to-day life, tinnitus can be overpowered by the everyday noises you experience. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.
It could be a sign that you’re experiencing issues with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. And that means (no shock here), yes, you should come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling depleted
Perhaps the reason why social interactions have become so exhausting is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it might be possible that you’re not hearing as well as you used to.
Your hearing might be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social event. Your brain is trying to fill in the holes that you can’t hear. This is fatiguing (no matter how good your brain is), particularly over the long run. So when you’re in especially challenging situations (such as a noisy space), you might experience even more fatigue.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
The truth is that we all encounter some hearing damage during our lives. Just how much (and how frequently you were wearing hearing protection) might have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss in the first place.
So if you’ve encountered any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Happily, you can take matters into your own hands and call us for an appointment. The sooner your hearing loss is diagnosed, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.