You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly certainly why. Well, it was irritating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at work. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming frustrated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be experiencing hearing loss?
Hearing loss is an issue for around 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And the problem goes beyond only your ears. Research reveals that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, dementia, and even depression. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply an indication of aging. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of 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.
Discover more about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re struggling with is a practical place to start. For many people, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to excessively loud noise can also be the cause for others. Noise-related 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 world is full of potentially ear-damaging noise that can deteriorate the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as one grows older are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both affect blood flow, which causes damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- Finding it difficult to understand words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
- You always feel like you are being left out of the conversations
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
Naturally, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been struggling with any of these symptoms! Feeling separated from your world can result in depression and even social solitude.
Treating hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have seen you having a hard time hearing. It might seem like a challenging conversation but it’s a really important one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, particularly if people have observed you having a tough time hearing. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be most helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to verify your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. If hearing loss is determined, we will advise the next course of action for you based on the results of the test. Usually, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. You’ll definitely be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your lifestyle since there are so many styles and options to pick from.
How to choose quality hearing aids
We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. Take some to time determine the right brand and model for your needs, this might require testing several styles and models. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound these days. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction of a sound. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids have different features, so research them to determine what features you need to better your life.
Also, remember to consider styles. They come in many snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are virtually invisible.
If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your cranky state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
