Bananas taste a lot different then they did in the past. That’s because today’s banana farmers grow an exceptionally different variety of banana then they did in the past. Today’s banana can develop easily in a large number of climates, are more resilient, and can develop faster. They don’t taste the same either. So why haven’t you noticed the great banana swap? Well, the change wasn’t a quick one. The change was so slow you never noticed.
Hearing loss can occur in a similar way. It’s not like you wake up one day and can’t hear anything. For most people, hearing loss advances slowly, often so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s happening.
Early treatment can really help preserve your hearing so that’s a regrettable truth. You can take measures to protect your hearing if you recognize that it’s in danger. So it’s a good plan to be on the lookout for these seven signs of diminishing hearing.
You should get your hearing tested if you experience any of these 7 indicators
Hearing loss isn’t always well understood as it happens slowly over time. It’s not like you’ll be completely unable to hear the day after you went to that big rock show. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) builds up over time. The sooner you deal with your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. Neglected hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of issues such as dementia, social isolation, and depression, so it isn’t something you want to mess around with.
These seven indicators are what you should be watching out for. A hearing exam is the only way to know, but maybe these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You keep cranking up the volume on your devices
Are you continually turning up the volume on your devices? Sure, possibly it’s just that all of your favorite actors and artists have started mumbling, or that the audio mixing on TV shows is dramatically different than it was before. But it’s more likely that you’re compensating for your increasing hearing loss by cranking the volume up on your devices.
This is particularly the situation if your family has also regularly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They can usually spot hearing issues in you sooner than you can.
Sign #2: You missed the doorbell (or a phone call)
It could be a sign that you’re having hearing problems if you are continuously missing day to day sounds. A few of the most ordinary noises you might miss include:
- Your doorbell (or a knock on the door): You thought your friend unexpectedly walked into your house but you in fact missed him knocking.
- Timers and alarms: Did you sleep through your alarm clock? Did the dinner get overcooked? It may not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Are you missing text messages? No one calls anymore, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a phone call.
If your family and friends have pointed out that they’re kind of scared of driving with you because you miss so many day to day sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck in reverse), that could be a sign that it’s time for a hearing test.
Sign #3: You’re continuously needing people to repeat what they said
Are your most frequently used words “what?” or “pardon?”? If you’re always asking people to repeat themselves, it’s very, very possible it’s not because of them, it’s because of you (and your hearing). If people do repeat themselves and you still can’t hear them this is particularly true. Definitely, time to get a hearing test.
Sign #4: Is everyone starting to mumble?
This one goes pretty well with #3 and we might even call it #3-A. You should know that people most likely aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it feel that way. It’s stressful to always feel like people are mumbling about you, so it might be a relief to learn they’re actually not. The truth is that you’re just not hearing them due to your hearing loss.
If you’re trying to talk to somebody in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be particularly true.
Sign #5: Family members encourage you to take a hearing test (or get hearing aids)
Your family and friends probably know you quite well. And some of them probably have healthy hearing. It’s a good idea to pay attention to your family members (especially 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 proposal. Maybe you feel like they just caught you on a bad day or something. But you could do your hearing a favor by taking their advice.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
When you’re experiencing ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition known as tinnitus. It isn’t at all unusual. When you have hearing loss, your tinnitus can become profound for a couple of reasons:
- Both can be triggered by damage: Damage triggers both tinnitus and loss of hearing. So you’re more likely to develop tinnitus and hearing loss the more damaged your hearing is.
- Tinnitus is more obvious when you have hearing loss: 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 a sign that you’re dealing with problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance problems and vertigo. And that means (no shock here), yes, you need to come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling fatigued
Perhaps the reason why social situations have become so tiring is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or maybe, and just hear us out here (again with the puns), your hearing isn’t what it used to be.
Your hearing may be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. When there are gaps in what you hear, your brain works overtime to fill in those holes. This extra effort by your brain can leave you feeling exhausted. So you may experience even more exhaustion when you’re in an especially noisy setting.
The first step is getting in touch with us for an appointment
The truth is that we all encounter some hearing damage during our lives. Exactly how much (and how often you were using hearing protection) may have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss at all.
So if you’ve experienced any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Thankfully, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get evaluated! The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to receive treatment.