You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not really sure why. Well, it was annoying earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at the office. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming irritated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?
Maybe the real issue is 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 issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even dementia, according to some research. What you might think is just an indication of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t exclude you from the conversation after all, perhaps you missed critical conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be very frustrating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Finding out a little bit more about what you’re dealing with is a useful place to start. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But for other people, it might be caused by years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging noise that can erode the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Long-term diseases that become more common as one grows older are a potential factor as well. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which causes damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You always feel like you are being left out of the discussions
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you struggle to hear words
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
Obviously, you’d be cranky if you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms! Feeling isolated from your world can cause depression and even social solitude.
Develop a plan to manage hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a difficult time hearing. It’s an important discussion even if it’s a challenging one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing test should be your next step and will clarify things for you. Try to get a family member to accompany you to your exam. A supportive, calming presence can be most helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to specify your best course of action moving forward. Normally, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. Don’t stress, there are so many choices and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
Deciding on quality hearing aids
We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to try a few brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing requirements. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than simply amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction of a sound. Do some research to find out which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and needs.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. Some models have no color and are nearly invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
Schedule a hearing assessment with our qualified hearing specialists today if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
