You’re not quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier this morning when no one took the time to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. The other night your daughter seemed frustrated with you when you asked her to turn up the volume of the TV over and over again leading to her suddenly leaving the house. What’s the deal with that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be battling with hearing loss?
As you get older hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even mild hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. What you may presume is simply a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Maybe, 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 properly during your day-to-day life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Learning a little bit more about what you’re coping with is a useful place to start. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of sounds in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more common as we age are a potential factor as well. When you have conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to fail they don’t recognize the signs:
- You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
- When there’s background noise, like an AC or fan running, you struggle to hear words
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
If you notice any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Depression and social solitude can be the consequence of feeling detached from your world.
Develop a plan to treat hearing loss
One of the very first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It may seem like a difficult discussion but it’s a very important one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing test should be your next move and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to figure out your best plan moving forward. In the majority of cases, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to get hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
How to choose quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is different and we will help you figure out what treatment will be best for yours. Take some to time choose the right brand and model for your needs, this may require testing several styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do a lot more than just amplify sound. They can determine the direction that sound is originating from, block out background noise, and even link to smartphones and computers. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids offer different features, so research them to determine what features you require to improve your life.
And, don’t forget to think about styles. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you suspect you might be suffering with hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that grumpy mindset and we can help!
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
