You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, you did feel left out earlier this morning when no one bothered to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming frustrated when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. What’s the story with that?
Perhaps the real problem is hearing loss!
As you age hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. You might have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely a sign of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t exclude you from the conversation after all, perhaps you missed crucial conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. The fact is, if you can’t hear very well during your everyday life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Discover more about hearing loss
A good place to begin is finding out more about what you’re dealing with. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to excessively loud noise can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of sounds in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more common with age are a potential factor as well. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both hinder blood flow, which can cause damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t detect when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
- You always feel like you are being left out of the conversations
- Finding it difficult to hear words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
Obviously, you’d be cranky if you’ve been coping with any of these signs! Feeling separated from your world can lead to depression and even social isolation.
Create a plan to manage hearing loss
One of the very first things you can do is ask family and friends if they have noticed you having a hard time hearing. It may seem like a challenging discussion but it’s a really worthwhile one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing examination should be your next step and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be really helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how significant it has become. If hearing loss is identified, we will recommend the next course of action for you depending on the results of the test. Usually, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. Don’t worry, there are so many choices and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is different and we will help you decide what treatment will be best for yours. You will most likely need to test a few brands and models before you find the best fit for your specific taste and hearing needs. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than simply amplify sound. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction of a sound. Do some research to find out which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, also. Some models have no color and are nearly invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
