Could You Have Hearing Loss?

Many people put off the question of their hearing for longer than they should. But as soon as changes are noticed, it makes sense to see your audiologist and have your hearing tested. It’s a simple and painless process and it’ll help you understand where your hearing health is currently at. We’re going to talk today about hearing loss and how you can look for the signs that you might be experiencing it yourself. If you’re wondering whether you could have hearing loss, you’re in the right place.

You’ve Noticed Prolonged Changes to Your Hearing

If you’ve noticed a change to your hearing that’s lasted a significant period of time and it hasn’t returned to normal, that’s certainly a sign that you might be experiencing a form of hearing loss. Short-term changes do occur and when they return to normal shortly after, it’s usually not a sign of anything significant. However, when those changes persist, and those changes are associated with a decline in your hearing condition, that’s a sign that you might need to get the problem looked at by a professional.

Other People Are Noticing That You’re Not Hearing Them

It’s often the case that people around you notice changes in your hearing before you do. They’ll notice the times when they say something and you don’t reply because you didn’t hear them. Those are the moments that you’re obviously likely to miss. When other people are noticing these things and telling you about them, you should probably take notice and listen. That kind of day-to-day insight can’t be ignored.

Picking Out Voices and Participating in Group Conversations Is Difficult

One thing that many people notice starting to happen when they’re experiencing hearing loss is an inability to pick out particular voices when more than one person is speaking. Suddenly, social scenarios with lots of people present become very difficult. You might start finding it hard to focus on what each person is saying or find that you can’t differentiate the foreground sounds from the background sounds. It’s a common sign of hearing loss.

What Should You Do If You Notice the Symptoms?

If you do notice any symptoms of hearing loss such as the ones discussed above, you should immediately talk to your audiologist and talk to them about your symptoms. They’ll then be able to assess you and test your hearing to see if your hearing has declined at all. The one thing you shouldn’t do is ignore the problem and bury your head in the sand, as tempting as it might be. There are many different things that can cause hearing loss. For many people, it’s simply a part of the aging process, and for others it’s the result of working in loud environments without the use of the proper hearing protection. Be sure to see your audiologist if you want to have your hearing tested or if you have any other questions.