Hearing loss can be brought on by many things and is usually extremely aggravating. There are some situations where hearing loss is caused by a more severe underlying health condition and isn’t just the result of an injury or aging.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should look 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 might find it hard to hear the individual you are talking to on the telephone. If you are continually turning 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 normal, but if it happens often, particularly when more than two people are talking, it’s likely an indication of hearing loss.
People around you are complaining about the increasing volume of your TV
Following along with television shows, especially when there’s dialog and music, can be challenging. We need to recognize that the sound doesn’t necessarily get clearer when you crank the volume up. But it’s time to get your hearing assessed if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you continuously need the volume on a really loud setting.
Trouble hearing in loud environments
If you are in a public location and the background noise makes it difficult to hear the others with you, it generally means you struggle to filter out background noise and tune into speech. This is one of the most prevalent complaints of people who are experiencing hearing loss.
You say “what” a lot
Just because you aren’t able to hear somebody mumbling several feet away doesn’t mean you have hearing loss. Still, if you say the word “what” more than any other word in your vocabulary, it may be a red flag that you aren’t getting sound signals clearly in order to process speech correctly.
Failing to understand what people are saying
Misunderstanding what people are saying can be embarrassing and is often a sign of high frequency hearing loss. This means you are not capable of discerning the sounds of speech.
Call us for a hearing test as soon as you can if you are experiencing any of the above red flags. The good news is, hearing testing is easy and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to keep having trouble hearing.
