You aren’t really certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier this morning when no one took the time to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was aggravating. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the story with that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be suffering from hearing loss?
Hearing loss is an issue for around 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even mild hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you may presume is merely an indication of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be very aggravating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.
Get the facts about hearing loss
Learning a little more about what you’re coping with is a practical place to begin. For many people, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to excessively loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be caused by many noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can erode the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as one grows older are a potential factor as well. When you have conditions that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People often take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to go they don’t detect the signs:
- You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
- When individuals are having discussions, you always feel excluded
If you detect any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social isolation can be the outcome of feeling separated from your world.
Create a plan to manage hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask family and friends if they have noticed you having a hard time hearing. It might seem like a difficult talk but it’s a really important one. A hearing exam should be the next thing that you do, especially if people have noticed you having a hard time hearing. Try to get a family member to go along with you to your exam. 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 exam, we will be able to figure out your best plan going forward. In the majority of instances, that will entail getting hearing aids. Don’t stress, there are so many choices and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
How to pick quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you discover what treatment will be best for yours. Take some to time choose the correct brand and model for your needs, this might require testing a few styles and models. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even link to smartphones and computers. Do some research to find out which brands and models provide the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Also, don’t forget to think about styles. They come in many fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they are virtually invisible.
Schedule a hearing test with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you suspect you might be suffering with hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your cranky state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/