You’re not quite sure why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, it was irritating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at the office. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the story with that?
Maybe the real issue is hearing loss!
As you age hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research shows that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply an indication of aging. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t exclude you from the conversation after all, perhaps you missed crucial conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be exceedingly frustrating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Discover more about hearing loss
Finding out 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 growing older. But years of exposure to overly loud noise can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging noise that can deteriorate the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Another possible cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we grow older. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which can cause harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to go they don’t notice the signs:
- When there is background noise, like an AC or fan running, you struggle to hear words
- You regularly feel like you are being left out of the conversations
- You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
If you recognize any of these hearing loss indicators, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Feeling separated from your world can lead to depression and even social solitude.
Create a plan to treat hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you struggling to keep up with conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It’s an important conversation even if it’s a difficult one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing examination should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Try to get a loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing exam will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. If hearing loss is identified, 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. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
How to pick quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your individual type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to test a number of brands and models before you determine the best fit for your specific taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from, block out background noise, and even connect to smartphones and computers. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids have different features, so do some research to determine what features you require to better your life.
Also, remember to think about styles. They come in many snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are practically invisible.
Schedule a hearing test with our qualified hearing specialists today if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss. 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/