You aren’t quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, it was irritating earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at the office. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. Why would she do that?
Maybe the real problem is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for around 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research indicates that even slight hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, dementia, and even depression. What you might believe is simply a sign 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. Honestly, it can be very aggravating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.
Discover more about hearing loss
A good place to start is discovering more about what you’re coping with. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But for others, it may be due to years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we grow older. When you have disorders that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People typically don’t detect when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- When there’s background noise, like an AC or fan running, you struggle to hear words
- When people are conversing, you continually feel excluded
If you recognize any of these hearing loss indicators, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Feeling separated from your world can lead to depression and even social solitude.
Treating hearing loss
Begin 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 might seem like a challenging talk but it’s a very worthwhile one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, especially if people have observed you having a hard time hearing. Try to get a family member to go along with you to your exam. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive presence with you.
Your hearing examination will not only help to verify your hearing loss but it will also gauge the degree of it. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to specify your best plan moving forward. In most instances, that will entail getting hearing aids. You’ll definitely be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your lifestyle since there are so many styles and options to choose from.
Deciding on quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your individual type of hearing loss. Take some to time find the correct brand and model for your needs, this may require testing several styles and models. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background sounds, link to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to find out which brands and models provide the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. They come in various fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they’re nearly invisible.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you suspect you might be suffering with hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/