You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not really sure why. Well, it was frustrating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at work. The other night your daughter seemed frustrated 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?
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 problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even mild hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s just a sign of aging. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear very well during your day-to-day life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to begin is learning more about what you’re coping with. For many people, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to excessively loud sound can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of sounds in the world.
Another potential cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we age. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which causes damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People often take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to go they don’t notice the signs:
- When people are having discussions, you continually feel excluded
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been coping with any of these signs! Depression and social isolation can be the consequence of feeling detached from your world.
Create a plan to manage hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you working hard to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It may seem like a difficult talk but it’s a very important one. A hearing exam should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have observed you having a difficult time hearing. Try to get a loved one to accompany you to your exam. A supportive, calming friend can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing examination will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. If hearing loss is determined, we will recommend the next strategy for you depending on the results of the test. In most cases, that will involve getting hearing aids. You’ll definitely be able to get a set of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to choose from.
Picking out quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you decide what treatment will be best for yours. Take some to time choose the correct brand and model for your needs, this could require testing several styles and models. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to find out which brands and models come with the features that will best fit your lifestyle and needs.
And, remember to think about styles. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
If you think you’re dealing with hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. It’s time to get out of that grumpy mindset and we can help!
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/