Bananas don’t taste like they once did. There are very different types of bananas being grown today by banana farmers. These new bananas sprout faster, are more resilient, and can prosper in a wider range of climates. They don’t taste the same either. So how did this change occur without us detecting it? Well, the change wasn’t a rapid one. The change was so slow you never noticed.
The same thing can occur with your ears and hearing loss. It’s not like you wake up one day and can’t hear a thing. For most people, hearing loss develops gradually, often so slowly that you don’t really recognize what’s happening.
That’s unfortunate because early treatment can help preserve your hearing. If you are aware that your hearing is in danger, for instance, you might take more precautions to protect it. That’s why it might be significant to watch for these seven signs your hearing might be waning.
7 indications you should get a hearing assessment
Hearing loss isn’t always thoroughly grasped as it happens slowly over time. It’s not like you’ll be completely incapable of hearing the day after you went to that big rock concert. Recurring exposure to loud sound over a long period of time gradually results in recognizable hearing loss. So monitoring your hearing early will be the best way to safeguard it. You shouldn’t put off on this because untreated hearing loss has been connected to issues like social isolation, depression, and dementia.
You should, uh, watch out for these seven indications that you may be experiencing hearing loss. A hearing test is the only way to know, but maybe these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re constantly turning the volume up
Are you continually cranking up the volume on your devices? Sure, maybe it’s just that all of your favorite actors and artists have begun to mumble, or that the sound mixing on TV shows is drastically different than it used to be. But it’s also possible (if not probable) 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 especially the case if your family has also regularly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They can often 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 issues if you are constantly missing day to day sounds. Here are some common sounds you might be missing:
- Somebody knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell: When your best friend suddenly walks into your house, consider the possibility that they did actually knock, you simply missed it.
- Timers and alarms: Did you overcook dinner or sleep or sleep through your alarm clock? It may not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you missed them? No one calls anymore, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a call.
You’re missing essential sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your family and friends are becoming afraid to drive with you.
Sign #3: You’re continuously needing people to repeat what they said
Are your most frequently used words “what?” or “pardon?”? If you’re regularly needing people to repeat what they said, it’s very, very possible it isn’t because of them, it’s because of you (and your hearing). This is particularly relevant if people do repeat what they said and you still don’t hear what they’re saying. Seems like a hearing test is in order.
Sign #4: Is everyone starting to mumble?
You could also call this sign #3-A, since they go rather well together. You should know that people probably aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it feel like this. That might be a comfort (it’s no fun to be surrounded by people who you think are mumbling stuff about you). The reality is that you’re simply not hearing them because of your loss of hearing.
This can be especially pronounced if you’re trying to listen to someone 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 suggesting you have your hearing tested
Your family and friends probably know you quite well. It’s likely that at least some of them have fairly healthy hearing. If your members of your family (especially younger) are telling you that something is wrong with your hearing, it’s a smart plan to listen to them (no pun intended).
We get that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this recommendation away. Perhaps you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But taking their advice could preserve the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
Ringing in your ears is a condition called tinnitus. It’s not at all uncommon. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you have hearing loss:
- Damage can trigger both: Damage causes both tinnitus and loss of hearing. 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 noticeable: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your day-to-day life. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.
It could be a sign that you’re experiencing issues with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance problems and vertigo. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing assessment.
Sign #7: You feel tired after social interactions
Perhaps the reason why social situations have become so exhausting is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or it may be possible that you’re not hearing as well as you used to.
When you leave a restaurant or a social event feeling utterly depleted, your hearing (or lack thereof) may be the reason why. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain tries overtime to fill in those gaps. This is exhausting (no matter how good your brain is), especially over the long run. So when you’re in especially challenging situations (like a noisy space), you might experience even more fatigue.
The first step is getting in touch with us for an appointment
The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage in our lifetimes. If or when you develop hearing loss is heavily dependent on how well you protect your ears when you’re subjected to loud sound.
So if you’ve encountered any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Happily, you can take matters into your own hands and contact us for an appointment. The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to receive treatment.
