10 Signs Of Hearing Loss

 

Do you strain to hear others during a one-on-one conversation? Is it difficult to follow dialogue involving more than two people? Do people tell you that your television or radio is too loud? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you might be experiencing hearing loss. Whether it’s the first time you’re noticing your hearing is diminishing or if you’ve long suspected it, like any medical condition, the sooner you seek treatment the better. To help provide clarity for your own hearing health, we’ve compiled the Top 10 signs of hearing loss:

1. You get confused or have difficulty focusing in noisy areas such as restaurants, malls, meetings, etc. One of the most common complaints of all individuals with hearing loss is difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. It’s not so much that you can’t hear sound, rather you can’t understand what is being said.

 

2. You rely more on reading lips or watching people’s faces as they talk. Sometimes, when we experience a medical condition, we can either consciously or subconsciously adjust the way we go about our day. Consider those who have trouble seeing — they often squint their eyes to see clearly or get closer to whatever object it is they’re trying to see. The same goes for hearing loss; people often compensate for their inability to hear by trying to focus on the lips or faces of those with whom they are speaking, or leaning in closer.

 

3. You have trouble hearing women’s and children’s voices. Typically, hearing loss varies across frequency ranges; the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. With age, we are more likely to experience hearing loss in the higher frequencies. Women’s and children’s voices have the characteristic of being higher pitched than men’s voices. Because of this, it is often more difficult to hear women and children if we have a high frequency hearing loss. Think about speaking with a male who has a deep, rumbling voice. Hearing him usually is not difficult, but when a female or child speaks with a softer, higher pitched tone, hearing may not be as easy.

 

4. Avoiding social situations is a common behavior of people experiencing hearing loss. Sometimes it starts by common misunderstandings of conversation, and may lead to you withdrawing from the conversation because you think there is no point. As a result, your friends and family may start to think you are no longer listening or engaging in conversation, and this may lead you to stop attending social situations altogether. Constantly straining to hear and follow conversation is emotionally draining, and it is understandable to feel frustrated because communication is an integral part of all our relationships. You shouldn’t have to feel that you must avoid social situations because you have difficulty hearing; receiving treatment will help ensure you can continue experiencing the moments that mean the most.
   
   
5. When common sounds seem muffled, or people seem to mumble frequently, your hearing has likely diminished. While there are a variety of potential causes (e.g., a buildup of earwax or an ear infection), the tell-tale sign of hearing loss is muffled or unclear sound. The high frequency areas of sound add clarity and vibrancy to speech, so diminished hearing in those frequencies can lead to sound being muffled or unclear, and it sounding as if people are mumbling.

 

6. You experience a ringing sensation in the ears. Tinnitus is the name for the perception or sensation of sounds in your ears, with no external sound sources. From buzzing to whistling, hissing to ringing, clicking to swishing, the volume, type of sound or frequency of tinnitus can vary from person to person. It could also happen to one or both ears. Tinnitus is not a disease or a condition on its own, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. Tinnitus could be an indicator of noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder.
   
   
7. If you’ve been exposed to loud sounds over long periods of time, or even a single exposure to an explosive noise, you are very susceptible to experiencing hearing loss. Everyday sounds such as noisy work environments or loud music often ties back to hearing loss diagnoses later in life. The relationship between noise and hearing loss is very strong and noise-induced hearing loss may happen gradually or suddenly.

 

8. Hearing loss runs in your family. Many medical conditions are hereditary, and if you have family members who have experienced hearing loss, you may also have a genetic predisposition to it.

 

9. You have diabetes, circulatory or thyroid conditions. Studies have shown that healthy cardiovascular systems aid in healthy auditory systems — blood flows throughout the body, including to our ears. So, if you have a condition such as diabetes, circulatory or thyroid dysfunction where normal blood flow is affected, your hearing is more likely to be affected, too.
   
   
10. You take medications that affect your hearing. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, there are more than 200 known ototoxic (harmful to the ear) medications available both by prescription and over-the-counter. They’re used to treat serious infections, cancer or heart problems, but can also have serious adverse effects on your hearing. Ototoxic drugs can damage sensory cells in the inner ear used in hearing and balance. And although there is sometimes little choice for taking these medications, it’s important to discuss the potential for hearing damage with your doctor.

On average, it takes people seven years from the time they first think they have hearing loss to the time they seek treatment. However, hearing loss is notorious for worsening over time. And while it’s true that even people with normal hearing can have trouble understanding or hearing in certain environments, if you’ve experienced or are experiencing any of the signs above, don’t wait. Contact your local hearing care professional to have your hearing tested  today!

To book your hearing assessment today, contact your local Sonic partner clinic