Bananas taste a lot different than they did in the past. That’s because modern banana farmers grow a very different variety of banana than they used to. These new bananas grow faster, are more resilient, and can thrive in a wider variety of climates. And they taste quite different. So why haven’t you noticed the great banana swap? Well, the truth is that it happened slowly, over time. You never noticed the gradual change.
The same thing can take place with your ears and hearing loss. It’s not like all of a sudden your hearing is totally gone. For the majority of individuals, hearing loss advances slowly, often so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s happening.
That’s unfortunate because early treatment can help preserve your hearing. If you are aware that your hearing is in danger, for example, you may take more safeguards to protect it. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these seven signs of diminishing hearing.
You should have your hearing evaluated if you experience any of these 7 signs
Hearing loss isn’t always thoroughly grasped as it happens slowly over time. It’s not as if you’ll go to a loud rock concert and the next day find yourself completely incapable of hearing. Recurring exposure to loud sound over a long period of time slowly produces recognizable hearing loss. The earlier you treat your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. You don’t want to put off on this because neglected hearing loss has been connected to issues such as social separation, depression, and dementia.
You should, uh, watch out for these seven signs that you may be developing hearing loss. A hearing exam is the only way to be sure, but maybe these warning signs will motivate you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re continuously cranking the volume up
Are you continually cranking up the volume on your devices? Maybe they’re mixing the audio on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have begun to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not probable) that you’re hearing is gradually going, and that you’re raising the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
This is particularly the situation if your family has also constantly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They can usually recognize hearing issues in you sooner than you can.
Sign #2: You missed the doorbell (or a phone call)
It could be an indication that you’re having hearing issues if you are constantly missing day to day sounds. Some of the most ordinary noises you may miss include:
- Your doorbell (or a knock on the door): When your best friend suddenly walks into your house, consider the possibility that they did in fact knock, you just missed it.
- Alarms and timers: Did you burn dinner or sleep or sleep through the ringing of your alarm clock? It may not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you missed them? Nobody calls anymore, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a call.
If your loved ones have mentioned that they’re kind of scared of driving with you because you miss so many common sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck backing up), that could be a sign that it’s time for a hearing exam.
Sign #3: You’re constantly needing people to repeat themselves
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? If you’re constantly asking people to repeat what they said, it’s very, very possible it’s not because of them, it’s because of you (and your hearing). This is particularly true if people do repeat what they said and you still don’t hear what they say. Definitely, time to schedule a hearing assessment.
Sign #4: It sounds as if everyone’s always mumbling
This one goes pretty well with #3 and we might even call it #3-A. You should know that people most likely aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it seem that way. It’s stressful to always feel like people are mumbling about you, so it might be a relief to find out they’re actually not. Alternatively, it’s more likely that you’re just having a difficult time hearing what they’re saying.
This can be particularly noticeable if you’re trying to listen to somebody who has a higher pitched voice, or if you need to have a conversation in a noisy space, such as a restaurant.
Sign #5: Family members prompt you to take a hearing test (or invest in hearing aids)
You probably have a pretty close relationship with your friends and family. And some of them most likely have healthy hearing. If your members of your family (especially younger) are telling you that something is wrong with your hearing, it’s a good plan to listen to them (no pun intended).
We understand that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this recommendation away. Perhaps you feel like they just caught you on a bad day or something. But heeding their advice could protect the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance problems
Ringing in your ears is a condition known as tinnitus. It’s incredibly common. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you have hearing loss:
- Both can be triggered by damage: Damage causes both tinnitus and hearing loss. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to develop both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Hearing loss can make tinnitus more noticeable: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your daily life. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.
It could be an indication that you’re experiencing problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. This means it’s time to come see us for a hearing assessment.
Sign #7: You feel tired after social interactions
Maybe you’ve always been an introvert at heart, and that’s why social interactions have grown totally exhausting. Or it might be possible that you’re not hearing as clearly as you used to.
Your hearing might be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain works overtime to fill in those holes. This extra effort by your brain can leave you feeling exhausted. So you might experience even more fatigue when you’re in a particularly noisy setting.
Begin by coming to see us
The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage during our lives. Just how much (and how often you were wearing hearing protection) may have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss at all.
So if you’ve encountered any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get evaluated! The sooner your hearing loss is diagnosed, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.