You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not really certainly why. Well, you did feel excluded earlier this morning when no one bothered to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming annoyed when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. Why would she do that?
Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be battling with hearing loss?
As you age hearing loss can take you by surprise and over 40 million people in the US suffer with it. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, cognitive decline, and even depression. You could have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply a sign of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, perhaps you missed critical conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. The fact is, if you can’t hear properly during your day-to-day life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to start is finding out more about what you’re coping with. Hearing loss does happen to many people due to the aging process. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-induced 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 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 common with age. When you have conditions that cause problems 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:
- Struggling to comprehend words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- When people are having discussions, you continually feel left out
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
If you recognize any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling separated from your world can result in depression and even social isolation.
Managing hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask family and friends if they have noticed you having a difficult time hearing. It’s a crucial conversation even if it’s a challenging one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next step and will clarify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how extensive it has become. If hearing loss is determined, we will recommend the next course of action for you based on the results of the test. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. Don’t worry, there are so many choices and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
How to choose quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. Take some to time choose the correct brand and model for your needs, this could require testing a few styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do a lot more than just amplify sound. They can determine the direction that sound is originating from, block out background sound, and even link to smartphones and computers. Different brands and types of hearing aids offer different features, so research them to find out what features you require to improve your life.
And, don’t forget to think about styles. They come in many snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they’re virtually invisible.
If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/