You aren’t quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier this morning when no one took the time to pull 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 TV volume up. What’s the story with that?
Perhaps the real issue is hearing loss!
As you get older hearing loss can take you by surprise and over 40 million people in the US suffer with it. And the issue goes beyond just your ears. Research shows that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. What you might believe is merely a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t exclude you from the conversation after all, perhaps you missed crucial conversational queues because you didn’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 start is learning more about what you’re dealing with. For many people, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more prevalent as we age. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which can cause damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People generally don’t detect when their hearing starts to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- Finding it difficult to hear words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- When people are having discussions, you continually feel left out
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
If you notice any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social isolation can be the result of feeling separated from your world.
Make a plan to treat hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you working hard to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too frequently. It might seem like a challenging conversation but it’s a really important one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next step and will simplify things for you. Try to get a loved one to go along with you to your exam. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how significant it has become. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to determine your best plan moving forward. Normally, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. You’ll definitely be able to get a set 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 unique type of hearing loss. Take some to time determine the right brand and model for your needs, this might require testing several styles and models. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids have different features, so do some research to determine what features you need to better your life.
Also, remember to think about styles. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
Schedule a hearing assessment with our qualified hearing specialists today if you believe you might be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your grumpy state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/