Hearing loss is usually a frustrating condition that can be the result of a variety of things. There are some circumstances where hearing loss is related to a more severe underlying health problem and isn’t just the result of an injury or aging.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should watch for
Hearing loss will often throw up a variety of red flags indicating it’s time for a hearing exam. Here are some of those red flags that should make you pay attention.
Difficulties hearing on the telephone
Even with a volume control setting, you may find it hard to hear the person you are talking to on the phone. If you are constantly cranking the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you need to make an appointment as soon as possible for a hearing evaluation.
Difficulty following conversations
Sometimes, we get lost when we’re having conversations even when our hearing is healthy, but if it happens frequently, particularly when more than two people are talking, it’s probably a sign of hearing loss.
Neighbors and family members are complaining about a loud TV
It can be challenging to hear television programs, particularly if music is combined with dialog. We need to recognize that the sound doesn’t necessarily get clearer when you turn up the volume. But if you continuously need the television turned up to a high volume that is unpleasant for other people in the room or if your neighbors are hearing your television, it is time to check your hearing.
Trouble hearing in noisy environments
If you are in a public place and the background noise makes it difficult to hear the others with you, it typically means you struggle to mask background noise and focus on speech. Individuals who are going through hearing loss most frequently have this complaint.
You keep asking people what they said
If someone is mumbling a few feet from you and you can’t hear them, that doesn’t always indicate you have hearing loss. Still, it may be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech correctly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Failing to understand what people say
It can be an indication of high frequency hearing loss, often an awkward one, if you regularly misunderstand what people are saying. This means you are not capable of discerning the sounds of speech.
Contact us for a hearing exam as soon as you can if you are noticing any of the above red flags. The good news is, hearing testing is simple and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to keep having trouble hearing.