Your hearing isn’t infallible, and over time, exposure to loud environments such as construction sites, concerts, or even listening to music at high volumes through headphones, as well as health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of ear infections, can cause damage that affects your hearing.
But it’s not just these factors that can result in hearing loss. Age can also play a role in your hearing, and over time, as you age, you may notice that hearing loss becomes a natural part of the aging process. This is entirely normal and a common experience for many as they grow older.
But what are those signs you’re experiencing hearing loss, and what do you need to look out for? Recognizing these signs and taking action is the first step towards regaining control of your hearing health.
Difficulty Following Conversations
One of the major signs your hearing isn’t what it was is that you can’t follow conversations as you once did. Maybe the environment is too noisy, and you can’t focus on who is speaking. Or you might find that if you’re not looking directly at a person and concentrating, you can’t quite make out what they’re saying. This can be extremely confusing and one of the main indicators that all isn’t well with your hearing.
Book a hearing test and talk to your care provider to help you find hearing aids locally to improve your hearing in the event of any loss.
Turning the Sound Up
Another giveaway that isn’t always obvious is the need to turn the TV up louder so you can hear it. While from time to time, different movies and TV shows may require adjustments to your usual volume settings. If you’re turning things up higher than usual or people are commenting on how loud the TV or radio is, then it might be that you need to get your hearing checked.
Asking People to Repeat Themselves
Are you constantly struggling to keep up or missing what people are saying, especially if they’re facing away from you, or you lose sight of their mouth? This too, is another indicator you’re having hearing issues. While it could be due to an illness such as an ear infection or even a swimmer’s ear if you are frequently in water, frequently asking people to repeat themselves over prolonged periods might be a serious issue that needs investigating.
Avoiding Taking Phone Calls
The avoidance of taking phone calls is a modern phenomenon for young people, but if you notice that you are not doing so for reasons other than not taking calls, i.e., you start to understand what people on the other end of the line are saying, it is time for a hearing check.
Many people, when they are losing their hearing, gradually stop using the phone because they can’t quite hear what’s being said. There are many reasons for this: poor sound quality over the internet, excessive environmental noise, or an inability to see someone’s face while they talk. However, if you are noticing a decline in calls, then you may be experiencing issues with your hearing.
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