You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not really sure why. Well, you did feel left out earlier this morning when no one took the time to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was aggravating. The other night your daughter seemed irritated with you when you asked her to turn up the volume of the TV over and over again resulting in her abruptly leaving the house. What’s the story with that?
Perhaps the real problem is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is an issue for about 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And the issue goes beyond just your ears. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you might presume is simply an indication of age, may actually be a treatable medical condition. Perhaps, you missed essential conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear properly during your everyday life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Finding out a little more about what you’re coping with is a practical place to begin. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be caused by lots of noise sources, including mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can erode the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Long-term diseases that become more prevalent as we age are a possible factor as well. When you have conditions that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t recognize when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
- When individuals are having discussions, you continually feel excluded
- When there’s background noise, like an AC or fan running, you struggle to hear words
If you detect any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social solitude can be the consequence of feeling separated from your world.
Treating hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It’s a crucial conversation even if it’s a difficult one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, particularly if people have noticed you having a tough time hearing. Try to get a loved one to go along with you to your exam. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive presence with you.
Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how extensive it has become. If hearing loss is established, we will recommend the next course of action for you depending on the results of the exam. In the majority of instances, that will involve getting hearing aids. Don’t worry, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you determine what treatment will be best for yours. Take some to time choose the right brand and model for your needs, this may require testing several styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do so much more than simply amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to determine which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Also, remember to think about styles. They come in many snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they’re nearly invisible.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you believe you may be experiencing hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that grumpy mindset and we can help!
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/