You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, it was aggravating earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at work. The other night your daughter seemed irritated with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again leading to her abruptly leaving the house. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be battling with hearing loss?
Hearing loss is an issue for roughly 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. 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 believe is just a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Maybe, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be very aggravating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Discover more about hearing loss
A good place to begin is discovering more about what you’re coping with. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals due to the aging process. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, such as mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in loud traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Long-term diseases that become more common as we age are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which can cause damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the conversations
- Struggling to understand words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
If you recognize any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Feeling detached from your world can trigger depression and even social solitude.
Make 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 really important one. A hearing examination should be the next thing that you do, particularly if people have noticed you having a tough time hearing. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be most helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how extensive it has become. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to figure out your best plan moving forward. In most instances, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
How to choose quality hearing aids
We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. Take some to time find the correct brand and model for your needs, this might require testing a few styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do so much more than just amplify sound. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids have different features, so research them to determine what features you need to better your life.
And, don’t forget to consider styles. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you think you might be experiencing hearing loss. 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/