You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not quite sure why. Well, it was aggravating earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at work. Last night your daughter seemed annoyed with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again leading to her abruptly leaving the house. What’s the story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be suffering from hearing loss?
Hearing loss is an issue for roughly 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even minor hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s just an indication of aging. Maybe, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear very well during your day-to-day life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Learning a little bit more about what you’re struggling with is a practical place to start. Hearing loss does happen to lots of people as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to excessively loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be caused by lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in loud traffic with the window down. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of noises in the world.
Another potential cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more prevalent as we age. When you have disorders that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People generally don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- Finding it difficult to understand words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the conversations
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms! Feeling isolated from your world can cause depression and even social solitude.
Make a plan to treat hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you working hard to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too frequently. It may seem like a challenging talk but it’s a very important one. A hearing exam should be the next thing that you do, especially if people have observed you having a difficult time hearing. Try to get a family member to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be really helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to figure out your best plan going forward. Usually, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. Don’t worry, there are so many options and features that you’re certain to find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is different and we will help you decide what treatment will be best for yours. You will probably need to try a number of brands and models before you determine the best fit for your specific taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction of a sound. Different brands and types of hearing aids include different features, so do some research to determine what features you need to better your life.
And, don’t forget to think about styles. They come in various snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are practically invisible.
Schedule a hearing assessment with our qualified hearing specialists today if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your grumpy state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/