Hearing loss is extremely common – affecting about 48 million Americans. But despite its prevalence, many are unaware or in denial that they have the condition. This may be due to stigma around use of hearing aids or simply be because hearing loss often develops so gradually they don’t notice anything has changed. It’s important to seek treatment for hearing problems right away, so we’ve compiled six early signs of hearing loss.
1. You Have Trouble Talking on the Phone
People with hearing loss often rely on visual cues to communicate. Lack of these signals combined with poor sound quality make talking on the phone notoriously difficult for people with hearing loss.
2. Background Noise Is Challenging
It’s also common for people with hearing loss to have trouble following conversations when background noise is present, like at Taste Full Beans.
3. Your Family Complains About the TV Volume
In many cases, it is the family of the person with hearing loss who identifies the problem first. This is because, over time as hearing deteriorates, you’ll need to turn up the volume a little more and a little more. Eventually, you’ll be listening at a volume that is uncomfortable or irritating to others in your home.
4. Social Interactions Are Exhausting
In the age of COVID-19, almost everyone is experiencing increased fatigue after social interactions, whether over Zoom or in person. But for people with hearing loss, straining to hear what is said, processing the meaning and responding appropriately are especially tiring.
5. You Ask People to Repeat Themselves Frequently
If you find yourself saying “what?” over and over throughout the day, it likely means you’re having at least some trouble hearing.
6. It Seems Like People Mumble
Many people with hearing loss report being able to hear just fine, but have trouble understanding what is being said, which may lead you to believe everyone around you is mumbling. This may instead be due to high-frequency hearing loss, which means lower sounds like vowels come through clearly, but consonants are lost, making it hard to decipher the words.
For more information about the early signs of hearing loss or to schedule an appointment with an audiologist, call the experts at Carolina Ear, Nose, Throat, Sinus & Allergy today.