You’re not quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier today when no one took the time to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. The other night your daughter seemed irritated with you when you asked her to turn up the volume of the TV over and over again leading to her suddenly leaving the house. What’s the story with that?
Maybe the real issue is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for around 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And the problem goes beyond just your ears. Even mild hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you may think is simply an indication of age, could actually be a treatable medical condition. Perhaps, you missed essential conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear properly during your everyday life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Learn more about hearing loss
Learning a little bit more about what you’re coping with is a useful place to start. Hearing loss does happen to many people as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to excessively loud noise can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be caused by many noise sources, such as mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.
Chronic diseases that become more common as we age are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both affect blood flow, which causes damage to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t detect when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
- Finding it difficult to comprehend words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
- When individuals are conversing, you continually feel excluded
If you notice any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Feeling detached from your world can result in depression and even social solitude.
Managing hearing loss
One of the first things you can do is ask family and friends if they have noticed you having a difficult time hearing. It may seem like a challenging discussion but it’s a really important one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing exam should be your next move and will clarify things for you. Try to get a family member to go along with you to your exam. A supportive, calming friend can be really helpful.
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 decide on your best course of action moving forward. Usually, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to pick from.
How to pick quality hearing aids
Everyone’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you decide what treatment will be best for yours. You will probably need to evaluate several brands and models before you determine the best fit for your specific taste and hearing requirements. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids include different features, so research them to find out what features you require to improve your life.
Also, don’t forget to consider styles. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you believe you could be experiencing 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/