You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, it was annoying earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at the office. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be suffering from hearing loss?
As you get older hearing loss can take you by surprise and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even mild hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you might think is merely a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, maybe you missed crucial conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. The truth is, if you can’t hear very well during your everyday life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to start is learning more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to many people due to the aging process. But years of exposure to overly 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 heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of noises in the world.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we age. When you have conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t detect when their hearing starts to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- When there is background noise, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
- When individuals are having discussions, you continually feel left out
If you notice any of these hearing loss indicators, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling detached from your world can result in depression and even social isolation.
Treating hearing loss
Start by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you working hard to keep up with conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It’s a crucial conversation even if it’s a difficult one. A hearing examination should be next on your list, especially if people have observed you having a difficult time hearing. Try to get a loved one to go along with you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing exam will not only help to establish your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. If hearing loss is identified, we will advise the next course of action for you depending on the results of the exam. In most cases, that will entail getting hearing aids. You’ll certainly be able to get a set of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to pick from.
Deciding on quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your individual type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to evaluate several brands and models before you discover the best fit for your specific taste and hearing requirements. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can pinpoint the direction that sound is originating from, block out background sound, and even link to smartphones and computers. Different brands and types of hearing aids have different features, so research them to find out what features you require to improve your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, too. They come in many fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they’re practically invisible.
If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your grumpy state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/