You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one bothered to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was irritating. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be battling with hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a problem for about 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 shows that even minor hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, dementia, and even depression. You might have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely an indication of aging. Perhaps, you missed essential conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be extremely aggravating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to start is learning more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to overly 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 traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Long-term diseases that become more common with age are a potential factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, 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 frequently taken for granted:
- When people are having discussions, you always feel left out
- Struggling to comprehend words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
Obviously, you’d be cranky if you’ve been struggling with any of these signs! Depression and social isolation can be the outcome of feeling detached from your world.
Treating hearing loss
Start 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’s a crucial discussion even if it’s a difficult one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next step and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive friend with you.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how extensive it has become. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to decide on your best course of action moving forward. In most cases, 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.
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 probably need to try 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 identify the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even connect to smartphones and computers. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids include different features, so do some research to determine what features you need to improve your life.
And, don’t forget to consider styles. They come in many fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they are virtually invisible.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your cranky state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/