Bananas don’t taste the same as they once did. There are extremely different varieties of bananas being grown these days by banana farmers. These new bananas sprout faster, are more resilient, and can thrive in a wider range of climates. They don’t taste the same either. So why haven’t you detected the great banana exchange? Well, the change wasn’t a rapid one. The change was so gradual you never noticed.
The same thing can happen with your ears and hearing loss. It isn’t like suddenly your hearing is completely gone. For the majority of individuals, hearing loss advances gradually, often so slowly that you don’t really recognize what’s taking place.
Early treatment can really help maintain your hearing so that’s a regrettable truth. You can take steps to safeguard your hearing if you’re aware that it’s in danger. That’s why it may be significant to watch for these seven signs your hearing might be waning.
You should get your hearing evaluated if you notice any of these 7 signs
Hearing loss isn’t always well understood as it happens slowly over time. It isn’t 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 slowly produces noticeable hearing loss. The earlier you deal with your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. You shouldn’t put off on this because neglected hearing loss has been connected to problems such as social separation, depression, and dementia.
These seven indicators are what you should be watching out for. The only way to know for sure is to get a hearing test, but these indicators might encourage you to make an appointment earlier than you normally would have.
Sign #1: You’re continually cranking the volume up
Do you find yourself constantly reaching for the volume controls? Perhaps they’re mixing the audio on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have started to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not likely) that you’re hearing is slowly going, and that you’re raising the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
This is particularly the situation if your family has also constantly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They will often observe your hearing loss before you become aware of it.
Sign #2: You didn’t hear your phone ringing (or the doorbell)
It could be an indication that you’re having hearing trouble if you are continuously missing everyday sounds. Some of the most ordinary sounds you may miss include:
- Someone knocking on your door or ringing your doorbell: When your best friend suddenly walks into your house, take into account the possibility that they did in fact knock, you simply missed it.
- Timers and alarms: Did you sleep through your alarm clock ringing? Did the dinner get burned? It may not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is not loud enough.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you’re missing them? Nobody calls nowadays, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a phone call.
If your family and friends have mentioned that they’re kind of afraid of driving with you because you miss so many everyday sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck backing up), that could be a sign that it’s time for a hearing test.
Sign #3: You’re always asking people to repeat what they said
Are your most commonly used words “what?” or “pardon?”? If you’re constantly needing people to repeat themselves, it’s very, very possible it isn’t because of them, it’s because of you (and your hearing). If people do repeat what they said and you still don’t hear them this is particularly true. Looks like a hearing test is needed.
Sign #4: Is everybody starting to mumble?
This one goes pretty well with #3 and we might even call it #3-A. You should realize that people probably aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it seem like this. It’s stressful to always feel like people are mumbling about you, so it might be a comfort to find out they’re actually not. The truth is that you’re simply not hearing them due to your loss of hearing.
This can be particularly pronounced if you’re attempting to listen to somebody who has a higher pitched voice, or if you need to have a conversation in a loud space, like a restaurant.
Sign #5: Loved ones keep recommending you have your hearing tested
Your family and friends most likely know you quite well. And some of them probably have healthy hearing. It’s a smart idea to listen to your family members (particularly the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
It’s easy to understand that you would want to rationalize away this advice. Possibly you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But heeding their advice could maintain the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance issues
When you have ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition known as tinnitus. It’s not at all uncommon. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you’re dealing with hearing loss:
- Damage can trigger both: Damage triggers 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 pronounced: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your daily life. But as those everyday noises fade to the background (due to hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes comparatively louder and considerably more noticeable.
Either way, if you’re noticing loud ringing, or even dizziness and vertigo, it could be an indication that something is happening in your ears. And that means (no surprise here), yes, you should come see us for an exam.
Sign #7: You feel exhausted after social engagement
Maybe the reason why social interactions have become so exhausting is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it might be possible that you’re not hearing as well as you once did.
When you leave a restaurant or a social affair feeling utterly depleted, your hearing (or lack thereof) might be the reason why. When there are gaps in what you hear, your brain tries overtime to fill in those holes. This additional effort by your brain can leave you feeling depleted. So when you’re in particularly challenging situations (like a noisy space), you may experience even more fatigue.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
The truth is that we all encounter some hearing damage in our lifetimes. Just how much (and how often you were wearing hearing protection) might have a big affect on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss in the first place.
So if you’ve encountered any of these signs, it’s an indication that the banana is changing. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get tested! The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.