You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one bothered to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was aggravating. Last night your daughter seemed irritated 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 story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be battling with hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a problem for around 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And the issue goes beyond just your ears. Research shows that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, dementia, and even depression. What you may presume is simply a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The fact is, if you can’t hear properly during your everyday life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Discover more about hearing loss
A good place to start is finding out more about what you’re dealing with. For many people, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to excessively loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-induced hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of noises in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as we age are a possible factor as well. When you have disorders that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
- When people are conversing, you always feel excluded
- Finding it difficult to understand words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
Naturally, you’d be cranky if you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms! Feeling separated from your world can lead to depression and even social isolation.
Create a plan to manage hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask family and friends if they have noticed you having a hard time hearing. It’s an important discussion even if it’s a difficult one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing exam should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive presence with you.
Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how extensive it has become. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to figure out your best plan moving forward. In most cases, that will entail getting hearing aids. Don’t worry, there are so many choices and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
Deciding on 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 may require testing a few styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than just amplify sound. They can determine the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even connect to smartphones and computers. Do some research to find out which brands and models come with the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
Schedule a hearing assessment with our qualified hearing specialists today if you believe you might be suffering with hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your cranky state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/