You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, you did feel left out earlier this morning when no one bothered to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was irritating. The other night your daughter seemed annoyed with you when you asked her to turn up the volume of the TV over and over again resulting in her suddenly leaving the house. Why would she do that?
Perhaps the real issue is hearing loss!
As you get older hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million people in the US suffer with it. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research indicates that even slight hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. You might have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely a sign of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, perhaps you missed critical conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be exceedingly aggravating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re dealing with is a useful place to begin. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of growing older. But for other people, it may be due to years of noise overexposure. Noise-induced hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging noise that can deteriorate the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent with age are a potential factor as well. When you have disorders that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People generally don’t detect when their hearing begins to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- Struggling to hear words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- When individuals are conversing, you always feel left out
Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been struggling with any of these symptoms! Depression and social solitude can be the consequence of feeling separated from your world.
Make a plan to treat hearing loss
One of the very first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It’s an important discussion even if it’s a difficult one. A hearing test should be the next thing that you do, especially if people have observed you having a hard time hearing. Try to get a loved one to accompany you to your exam. A supportive, calming presence can be really helpful.
Your hearing test will not only help to verify your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to determine your best course of action going forward. In the majority of cases, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t worry, there are so many options and features that you’re certain to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is different and we will help you discover what treatment will be best for yours. Take some to time choose the right brand and model for your needs, this may require testing a few styles and models. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction of a sound. Do some research to determine which brands and models come with the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, too. They come in various snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are virtually invisible.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
