Bananas don’t taste the same as they once did. There are rather different types of bananas being grown nowadays by banana farmers. These new bananas sprout faster, are more robust, and can thrive in a wider variety of climates. And they taste very different. So why haven’t you noticed the great banana swap? Well, the truth is that it developed slowly, over time. The change was so slow you never noticed.
The same thing can happen with your ears and hearing loss. It’s not like suddenly your hearing is totally gone. For the majority of individuals, hearing loss advances gradually, frequently so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s happening.
That’s regrettable because early treatment can help preserve your hearing. You can take steps to protect your hearing if you recognize that it’s at risk. That’s why it might be significant to watch for these seven indications your hearing might be waning.
7 indications you should get a hearing test
Hearing loss develops gradually and over time, but it isn’t always well grasped. It’s not as if you’ll be completely incapable of hearing the day after you went to that big rock concert. Repetitive exposure to loud sound over a long period of time gradually results in recognizable hearing loss. So monitoring your hearing early will be the best way to safeguard it. Neglected hearing loss has been linked to a greater danger of issues like dementia, social isolation, and depression, so it isn’t something you want to mess around with.
You should, uh, watch out for these seven signs that you may be experiencing hearing loss. A hearing exam is the only way to know, but perhaps these warning signs will motivate you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re continuously cranking up the volume
Do you find yourself constantly reaching for the volume controls? Maybe they’re mixing the sound on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have begun to mumble. But it’s more likely that you’re compensating for your increasing hearing loss by turning the volume up on your devices.
If others keep telling you the volume is too high this is especially likely. They can often recognize hearing trouble in you faster than you can.
Sign #2: You failed to hear the doorbell (or a phone call)
It could be an indication that you’re having hearing problems if you are constantly missing everyday sounds. A few of the most common noises you might miss include:
- Somebody knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell: When your best friend suddenly walks into your house, take into account the possibility that they did in fact knock, you just missed it.
- Timers and alarms: Did you burn dinner or sleep or sleep through the ringing of your alarm clock? It might not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is not loud enough.
- Your phone: Are you failing to get text messages? Nobody makes phone calls nowadays, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a call.
You’re missing crucial sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your family and friends are becoming scared to drive with you.
Sign #3: You keep needing people to repeat what they said
Are your most commonly used words “what?” or “pardon?”? It’s likely that it’s an issue with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat what they said when they talk to you. This is especially relevant if people do repeat what they said and you still can’t hear what they say. Most likely, time to schedule a hearing exam.
Sign #4: It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling
This one goes fairly well with #3 and we might even call it #3-A. If it sounds like everyone around you is constantly mumbling or saying something under their breath, the truth is… well, they likely aren’t. That may be a comfort (it’s no fun to be surrounded by individuals who you think are mumbling stuff about you). Instead, it’s more likely that you’re just having a hard time hearing what they’re saying.
If you’re trying to talk to somebody in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially true.
Sign #5: Family members encourage you to get a hearing test (or get hearing aids)
You probably have a pretty close relationship with your family and friends. It’s likely that at least some of them have pretty healthy hearing. If your members of your family (especially younger) are informing you that something isn’t right with your hearing, it’s a good idea to listen to them (no pun intended).
It’s easy to understand that you would want to rationalize away this proposal. Maybe you think they just caught you on a bad day or something. But you could do your hearing a favor by taking their advice.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance problems
When you’re experiencing ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition known as tinnitus. It’s not at all unusual. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you’re dealing with hearing loss:
- Damage can cause both: Damage causes both tinnitus and hearing loss. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Hearing loss can make tinnitus more obvious: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your daily life. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.
It could be an indication that you’re dealing with issues with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling fatigued
Perhaps the reason why social interactions have become so tiring is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it may be possible that you’re not hearing as well as you once did.
Your hearing may be the reason why you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. When there are gaps in what you hear, your brain tries really hard to fill in those gaps. This extra effort by your brain can leave you feeling exhausted. So you might experience even more fatigue when you’re in an especially noisy setting.
Start by coming to see us
Honestly, hearing damage is normal to everybody to some degree. Exactly how much (and how often you were wearing hearing protection) may have a big affect on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss in the first place.
So it might be an indication that the banana is changing if you experience any of these signs. Happily, you can take matters into your own hands and contact us for an appointment. The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.