Hearing loss can be caused by many things and is usually incredibly aggravating. There are some situations where hearing loss is caused by a more severe underlying health condition and isn’t simply the result of aging or an injury.
Watch out for these hearing loss red flags
There are varieties of red flags that might be an indication of hearing loss and that it’s time to schedule a hearing aid discovery test appointment. Here are a few of those red flags that should make you pay attention.
Difficulties hearing on the phone
Even with a volume control setting, you may find it hard to hear the individual you are talking to on the telephone. If you are constantly cranking 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 exam.
Difficulty following conversations
Although getting lost when you’re having a conversation isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, it might be a sign of hearing loss if you frequently have a hard time processing the conversation when two or more individuals are talking simultaneously.
People around you are complaining about the increasing volume of your TV
It can be a challenge to hear tv shows, particularly if music is combined with dialog. It’s important to recognize that cranking the television up louder doesn’t always make the sound clearer. But it’s time to get your hearing checked if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you constantly need the volume on a really high setting.
Trouble hearing in noisy settings
It normally means you’re struggling to distinguish speech from background noise if hearing in a public place has become a challenge. This is one of the most common complaints of individuals who are developing hearing loss.
You say “what” a lot
If someone is mumbling a few feet from you and you’re unable to hear them, that doesn’t automatically indicate you have hearing loss. However, if you say the word “what” more than any other word in your vocabulary, it may be a red flag that you aren’t receiving sound signals clearly in order to process speech correctly.
Misunderstanding what people say
It can be a sign of high frequency hearing loss, often an awkward one, if you regularly misunderstand what people are saying. This form of hearing loss makes it hard to discern speech.
If you are dealing with any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing assessment as soon as possible. The good news is, hearing aid discovery testing is easy and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to keep having difficulty hearing.