You’re not really sure why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one took the time to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. 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 suddenly leaving the house. What’s the deal with that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be experiencing hearing loss?
As you age hearing loss can take you by surprise 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, cognitive decline, and even depression. What you might believe is just a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical condition. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. The fact is, if you can’t hear properly during your day-to-day life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to begin is finding out more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to lots of individuals as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to overly loud noise can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of sounds in the world.
Long-term diseases that become more prevalent as we age are a potential factor as well. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both affect blood flow, which can cause harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People normally take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to go they don’t notice the signs:
- Struggling to understand words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been coping with any of these symptoms! Depression and social solitude can be the outcome of feeling separated from your world.
Treating hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you struggling to keep up with conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It’s a crucial discussion even if it’s a challenging one. A hearing exam should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have observed you having a hard time hearing. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be really helpful.
Your hearing exam will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to determine your best plan going forward. In the majority of cases, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re certain to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. Take some to time choose the correct brand and model for your needs, this might require testing several styles and models. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction of a sound. Different brands and types of hearing aids come with different features, so research them to find out what features you require to better your life.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, also. They come in many fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they are virtually invisible.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/