You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not really sure why. Well, it was aggravating earlier this morning when you felt left out of the meeting at work. The other night your daughter seemed irritated with you when you asked her to turn up the volume of the TV over and over again leading to her abruptly leaving the house. What’s the deal with that?
Maybe the real issue is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is an issue for around 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And the problem goes beyond just your ears. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even dementia, according to some research. You might have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply a sign of aging. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, perhaps you missed critical conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. The truth is, if you can’t hear properly during your day-to-day life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Get the facts about hearing loss
A good place to begin is finding out more about what you’re coping with. Hearing loss does happen to lots of people due to the aging process. But years of exposure to excessively loud noise can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of many noise sources, including 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.
Long-term diseases that become more prevalent with age are a potential factor as well. When you have conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People normally take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to fail they don’t notice the signs:
- You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot
- You always feel like you are being left out of the conversations
- When there’s background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
Naturally, you’d be cranky if you’ve been coping with any of these signs! Depression and social solitude can be the result of feeling separated from your world.
Treating hearing loss
One of the very first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a difficult time hearing. It might seem like a challenging conversation but it’s a very worthwhile one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, particularly if people have noticed you having a hard time hearing. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be most helpful.
Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how significant it has become. If hearing loss is established, we will advise the next strategy for you based on the results of the exam. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your lifestyle since there are so many styles and options to pick from.
How to choose quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is different and we will help you discover what treatment will be best for yours. You will most likely need to test a number of brands and models before you discover the best fit for your specific taste and hearing needs. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than just amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, connect to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids come with different features, so research them to find out what features you need to improve your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, too. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing assessment with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you think you might be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to take action and end your grumpy state of mind?
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/