Bananas taste a lot different then they did in the past. There are very different varieties of bananas being cultivated nowadays by banana farmers. These new bananas grow faster, are more resilient, and can thrive in a wider variety of climates. They don’t taste the same either. So why haven’t you detected the great banana exchange? Well, the truth is that it happened slowly, through the years. The change was so slow you never noticed.
The same thing can happen with your ears and hearing loss. It isn’t like suddenly your hearing is totally gone. In most cases of hearing loss, it goes unobserved because it advances so slowly.
Early treatment can really help maintain your hearing so that’s an unfortunate truth. You can take measures to safeguard your hearing if you recognize that it’s at risk. That’s why it might be worthwhile to watch for these seven indications your hearing might be waning.
You should get your hearing evaluated if you notice any of these 7 indicators
Hearing loss isn’t always well grasped as it happens slowly over time. It’s not as if you’ll go to a noisy rock concert and the next day find yourself entirely unable to hear. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) builds up over time. The sooner you manage your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. You don’t want to put off on this because neglected hearing loss has been connected to issues such as social isolation, depression, and dementia.
These seven signs are what you should be watching out for. The only way to know for certain is to get a hearing test, but these indicators may encourage you to make an appointment earlier than you normally would have.
Sign #1: You’re continually cranking up the volume
Are you constantly turning up the volume on your devices? Maybe they’re mixing the audio on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite actors have started to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not probable) that you’re hearing is slowly going, and that you’re raising the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
If others keep telling you the TV is too loud this is especially likely. They will often observe your hearing loss before you become aware of it.
Sign #2: You failed to hear your phone ringing (or the doorbell)
It could be a sign that you’re having hearing problems if you are continuously missing everyday sounds. Some of the most common noises you might miss include:
- Someone knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell: When your best friend unexpectedly walks into your house, consider the possibility that they did in fact knock, you simply missed it.
- Alarms and timers: Did you overcook dinner or sleep or sleep through your alarm clock? It may not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is not loud enough.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you missed them? You’re more likely to miss text messages than calls since nobody makes calls nowadays.
You’re missing crucial sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your friends and family are becoming afraid to drive with you.
Sign #3: You’re continuously needing people to repeat themselves
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most commonly used words? It’s likely that it’s a problem with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they talk to you. This is particularly relevant if people do repeat themselves and you still don’t hear what they say. Most likely, time to get a hearing exam.
Sign #4: Is everybody starting to mumble?
You could also call this sign #3-A, since they go rather well together. You should realize that people probably aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it seem that way. That might be a comfort (it’s no fun to be surrounded by individuals who you think are mumbling stuff about you). The truth is that you’re just not hearing them due to your loss of hearing.
If you’re trying to talk to someone in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially relevant.
Sign #5: Family members prompt you to take a hearing exam (or invest in hearing aids)
You most likely have a pretty close relationship with your friends and family. And some of them most likely have healthy hearing. It’s a good idea to pay attention to your family members (particularly the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
It’s understandable that you would want to rationalize away this proposal. Perhaps you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But you could give your hearing an advantage by heeding their advice.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
When you have ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition known as tinnitus. It isn’t at all uncommon. When you’re dealing with hearing loss, your tinnitus can become extreme for a couple of reasons:
- Damage can cause both: Damage triggers both tinnitus and hearing loss. So you’re more likely to develop tinnitus and hearing loss the more damaged your hearing is.
- Hearing loss can make tinnitus more noticeable: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your day-to-day life. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.
It could be an indication that you’re dealing with problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance problems and vertigo. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing assessment.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling fatigued
Perhaps you’ve always been an introvert at heart, and that’s why social interactions have grown completely draining. Or perhaps, and just hear us out here (again with the puns), your hearing isn’t what it used to be.
When you leave a restaurant or a social affair feeling completely drained, your hearing (or lack thereof) could be the reason why. Your brain is attempting to fill in the holes that you can’t hear. This is fatiguing (no matter how good your brain is), especially over the long run. So when you’re in particularly strenuous situations (such as a noisy space), you may experience even more exhaustion.
Begin by coming to see us
Honestly, hearing damage is common to everybody to some level. Just how much (and how frequently you were using hearing protection) might have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss at all.
So if you’ve experienced any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Luckily, you can take matters into your own hands and give us a call for an appointment. You’ll be able to get treatment as soon as you get diagnosed.
