Your workplace recently adopted the trend of open-office floor plans, promoting collaboration and teamwork. However, you find yourself struggling in this new configuration. Not because you miss the privacy of cubicle walls, but because the elevated noise makes it difficult to follow conversations.
The inability to follow conversations in loud settings frequently acts as an early indicator of hearing loss, despite conventional hearing exams producing normal results. You still may have trouble discerning conversations even with “Normal” hearing.
The complexity of speech perception
Speech comprehension is a complex cognitive process that involves substantial brainpower. Distinguishing speech from background noise and focusing on specific voices amidst a cacophony of sounds demands optimal hearing abilities.
As hearing starts to go, the brain faces challenges in separating and processing speech signals amidst competing sounds. As a result, settings like bustling offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
Identifying hearing loss when it’s in its early stages
Here are a number of ways that early hearing loss can manifest:
- Increased mental exhaustion due to heightened concentration needed for listening.
- Social isolation.
- Trouble understanding conversations in loud environments.
Testing for hearing loss
Uncovering such difficulties can be tricky, particularly when traditional diagnostics indicate normal hearing. Here are a couple of tests being formulated by scientists to diagnose hearing loss in its early phases:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: The electrical signal transmitted from your ears to your brain is tracked by an EEG in this test. If these signals change in a particular way while you’re in a crowded or loud environment, that could be a firm indication of some problems with your hearing.
- The Eye Test: For this diagnostics, you wear a special set of glasses. These glasses can keep track of the movement and dilation of your pupils. If your pupils behave in a specific way, it suggests that you’re concentrating a little harder than usual. But it could be an indication that you’re straining to hear if this happens in a noisy setting.
These tests, coupled with personal observations, aim to detect hearing problems at their nascent stages, aiding early intervention.
The benefits of early detection
There are two significant advantages to early detection.
- It alleviates frustration by providing clarity about the difficulties of being in places like open office plans.
- Mental decline associated with untreated hearing loss can be avoided with early detection.
Think about finding help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Overall cognitive function and auditory health will be improved by early detection. Contact us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you may have.