It is possible to lose your hearing in an instant. For example, if your ears are exposed to a loud noise. However, for most people, it’s a gradual process. You can think of hearing loss in much the same way you think about eyesight.
It’s something that can happen slowly. With vision, it’s relatively easy to notice that you’re having greater difficulty in seeing the things that you used to see with ease. With hearing, it can be a little more difficult to realize what’s going on. That’s in part because there aren’t too many things that you hear on a regular basis and from the same distance. You know when you’re having difficulty reading the license plate of the car in front of you.
In this blog, we’re going to run through the ins and outs of how hearing loss can sneak up on you. Of course, if you have any doubts about your quality of hearing, then it’s best to talk with a hearing health professional, like the ones we have here at Hear Again America.
Early Signs
It’s usually only when a person notices that they’re experiencing symptoms of hearing loss that they understand there’s an issue. Of course, by this stage, the hearing loss will have been present for a while. It’s just that the symptoms hadn’t yet presented themselves. To catch hearing loss at the earliest stage, it’s best to actively be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss.
So, what are the symptoms? Let’s take a look.
Difficulty Hearing Conversations
If you find that you have to ask people to repeat themselves with more frequency, then you may be experiencing hearing loss. Another telltale sign is when you find it difficult to follow conversations when there’s a lot of background noise, such as traffic or other people.
Turning the TV and Radio Up Louder
The volume at which you need to have the TV and radio is one of the first signs that a person is experiencing hearing loss. That’s because the volume is usually set at the same volume, all the time. If you notice that you have to turn the volume higher than what you normally need, then it’ll be worthwhile visiting a hearing loss professional.
Muffled Sounds
It’s not just the volume of sounds that can indicate the presence of hearing loss. The quality of the sound can also be a measuring stick. If sounds are increasingly becoming muffled, then the clarity of your hearing is perhaps not what it was.
Increasing Hearing Loss
What we outlined above were the early signs of hearing loss. If you catch the symptoms in the earliest stage, then it makes managing the loss all the more straightforward. If no action is taken at this stage, then the hearing loss may progress further and get to a point where the level of loss becomes intense. At this stage, it won’t necessarily be you who is aware of the hearing loss, but also the people around you. If other people are telling you that you’ve got hearing loss, then you probably have.
What to Do
The good news is that there’s usually always something you can do about hearing loss. While there’s no cure for hearing loss, there are many treatments available. For instance, it could be that you’re suitable for a hearing aid. There are many options available, which means that there’s nearly always an option that’ll be right for you. Which one is best for you will depend on the extent of your hearing loss and what the hearing loss professional recommends? The most common hearing aid devices are in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC) – all of them have their plus points!
In some cases, a hearing aid might not be necessary. If the hearing loss is only minor or temporary, then simple lifestyle changes might be the only things that are required.
Regardless of what treatment options are recommended, you’ll likely find that taking the steps towards treatment can have a profoundly positive impact on your quality of life. It’s not a cure, but it’s the next best thing.
If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, then look at getting in touch with us here at Hear Again America. We offer a range of services related to hearing loss and have many locations across the Southeast of the United States, so you’re never too far from one of our locations if you live in this corner of the US! Call us today at (877) 905-9493.