Nearly 1 in 5 people have some degree of hearing loss, making hearing loss the third most pervasive health condition that people live with today. Though hearing loss is common, it is widely undertreated. Only a third of people who could benefit from treatment, actually receive it. Untreated hearing loss can have multifaceted effects on everyday life, health, and wellness. It can strain communication which impacts relationships, social engagement, and increases health risks. Watching for early signs of hearing loss can help you intervene early if you experience changes to your hearing health.
Conversations are difficult to engage in.
An early recognizable sign of hearing loss is struggling to navigate conversations. You may miss what others are saying, feel confused or lost, and not be able to completely catch everything being said. This may cause you to ask others to repeat something, speak louder, and/or speak slower. You may also:
- Find yourself responding with “huh” or “what” often.
- Lip read to help distinguish individual words.
- Nod in agreement but really be pretending to hear.
Hearing loss is a medical condition that reduces one’s capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound. This makes it tough to detect and readily process what sound which can seem distorted or muffled. These symptoms make it challenging to engage in conversations and practice effective communication. This can lead to miscommunication, frustrating interactions, and unpleasant conversations.
Your ears are ringing.
A common symptom of hearing loss is tinnitus. Tinnitus describes hearing a sound in one or both ears that only you can hear. This sound is most often characterized as a ringing, buzzing, clicking, or whistling like noise. Tinnitus can be mild to more significant, intermittent to constant. Tinnitus can take a toll on various aspects of everyday life: communication, sleep, concentration, ability to easily complete tasks etc. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 cases of tinnitus occur with underlying hearing loss. Tinnitus can be unpleasant and disruptive to experience so getting it evaluated early is important.
You always increase the volume on the TV.
Do you consistently turn up the volume while you are watching TV? This is another tell-tale sign of hearing loss. Increasing the volume on the TV as well as other electronic devices – phones, speakers, laptops, GPS navigation etc. is common when you have hearing loss. People often assume that increasing volume will enable them to hear better. But this is actually not a useful or sustainable strategy. Turning up the volume can further distort sound, making it harder and more uncomfortable to hear. It can also frustrate loved ones for whom the TV is too loud!
You feel tired after conversations.
Hearing loss involves the brain receiving less auditory information. This causes the brain to work harder to detect and process soundwaves. People with hearing loss often use various strategies to try and hear more clearly. This involves the brain using extra resources and energy to hear which can be exhausting. Additional effort can contribute to cognitive overload, listening fatigue, and feeling drained after conversations and social interactions.
You are skipping social events.
To cope with the many symptoms that hearing loss produces, people often skip social activities, events, and gatherings. This involves spending less time with loved ones and increased isolation. Social withdrawal is a common outcome of untreated hearing loss. This impacts social life, relationships, and mental health. Extensive studies show that this can increase the risk of developing depressive symptoms.
You are hiding your hearing challenges.
Another common sign of hearing loss is hiding your hearing challenges from loved ones. This looks like pretending to hear, not asking for clarification, keeping conversations short etc.
Prioritize Your Hearing Health Today
Fortunately, there is a wide range of hearing healthcare services and resources that are invested in transforming your hearing health. The first step is to schedule an appointment for a hearing test which involves a painless process that assesses your hearing capacities. Once your hearing needs are identified, treatment can be tailored to meet those needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation!
