It’s commonly said that hearing loss is a gradual process. That’s part of what can make it rather pernicious. Your hearing doesn’t worsen in big leaps but rather in tiny steps. And that can make the gradual decline in your ears difficult to keep track of, particularly if you aren’t watching for it. Because of this, it’s worthwhile to be familiar with the early signs of hearing loss.
A whole assortment of related issues, such as anxiety, depression, and even dementia, can result from untreated hearing loss, so although it’s hard to detect, it’s important to get hearing loss treated as early as possible. You will also avoid further deterioration with timely treatment. The best way to ensure treatment is to recognize the early warning signs as they are present.
Early signs of hearing loss can be hard to spot
Early hearing loss has subtle symptoms. It isn’t like you get up one day and, all of a sudden, you can’t hear anything quieter than 65 decibels. Instead, the early signs of hearing loss hide themselves in your everyday activities.
You see, the human body and brain, are incredibly adaptable. When your hearing starts to go, your brain can start to compensate, helping you follow discussions or determine who said what. Similarly, if your left ear starts to fade, perhaps your right ear starts to pick up the slack and you unconsciously start tilting your head just a bit.
But your ears and brain can only compensate so much.
Age related hearing loss – first signs
There are some common signs to look out for if you think that you or a family member may be going through the onset of age associated hearing loss:
- You’re asking people to repeat what they said frequently: This might be surprising. But, typically, you won’t realize you’re doing it. Naturally, if you have difficulty hearing something, you will ask people to repeat themselves. When this begins to happen more often, it should raise some red flags about your hearing.
- Increased volume on the TV, radio, or mobile phone: This is perhaps the single most recognized sign of hearing loss. It’s classically recognized and mentioned. But it’s also easy to notice and easy to track (and easy to relate to). You can be sure that your hearing is starting to go if you’re constantly turning the volume up.
- A hard time hearing in busy spaces: One of the things your brain is exceptionally good at is distinguishing individual voices in a crowded room. But your brain has progressively less information to work with as your hearing gets worse. It can quickly become overwhelming to try to hear what’s happening in a busy room. Getting a hearing examination is the best option if you find yourself avoiding more conversations because you’re having a difficult time following along.
- Consonant sounds like “s” and “th” are difficult to differentiate.: These consonant sounds tend to vibrate on a wavelength that becomes increasingly tough to differentiate as your hearing fades. You should pay especial attention to the “s” and “th” sounds, but other consonant sounds can also become mixed up.
You should also watch for these more subtle signs
There are some signs of hearing loss that don’t seem to have much to do with your hearing. These signs can be strong indicators that your ears are struggling even though they’re discreet.
- Difficulty focusing: It could be hard to obtain necessary levels of concentration to accomplish your day-to-day tasks if your brain has to invest more resources to hearing. As a result, you might experience some trouble focusing.
- Chronic headaches: When your hearing begins to decline, your ears are still struggling to hear sounds. They’re doing hard work. And that prolonged strain also strains your brain and can translate into chronic headaches.
- Restless nights: Insomnia is, ironically, an indicator of hearing loss. You may think the quiet makes it easier to sleep, but the strain puts your brain into a chronic state of alertness.
When you notice any of these signs of age-related hearing loss, it’s worth scheduling an appointment with us to identify whether or not you are dealing with the early stages of hearing impairment. Then we can help you protect your hearing with the best treatment plan.
Hearing loss develops gradually. But you can stay ahead of it with the right knowledge.
References
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/46306-Hearing-loss-auditory-deprivation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20373072