Bananas taste much different then they did in the past. There are very different types of bananas being cultivated these days by banana farmers. Today’s banana can grow easily in a wide variety of climates, are more resilient, and can grow faster. And they taste quite different. So why haven’t you detected the great banana swap? Well, the truth is that it developed slowly, over time. You never noticed the gradual switch.
Hearing loss can happen in a similar way. It isn’t like you wake up one day and can’t hear a thing. In most cases of hearing loss, it goes unnoticed because it advances so slowly.
That’s regrettable because early treatment can help preserve your hearing. If you are aware that your hearing is in danger, for instance, you might take more precautions 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 tested if you experience any of these 7 signs
Hearing loss happens gradually and over time, but it’s not always well grasped. It’s not like you’ll be completely incapable of hearing the day after you went to that big rock show. Recurring exposure to loud sound over a long period of time slowly results in recognizable hearing loss. So keeping an eye on your hearing early will be the best way to safeguard it. Neglected hearing loss has been connected to an increased danger of issues including dementia, social solitude, and depression, so it isn’t something you want to mess about with.
These seven signs are what you should be paying attention to out for. The only way to know for certain is to get a hearing exam, but these signs might encourage you to make an appointment earlier than you otherwise would have.
Sign #1: You’re continuously cranking up the volume
Are you constantly cranking up the volume on your devices? Maybe they’re mixing the sound on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite actors have begun to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not probable) that you’re hearing is slowly going, and that you’re increasing the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
This is particularly the situation if your family has also regularly been telling you that the TV is too loud. They can often recognize hearing problems in you sooner than you can.
Sign #2: You failed to hear the phone ringing (or the doorbell)
If you’re constantly missing some day to day sounds, that could be a sign of trouble with your ears. Here are a few common sounds you could be missing:
- Your doorbell (or someone knocking on the door): When your best friend abruptly walks into your house, take into account the possibility that they did actually knock, you just missed it.
- Alarms and timers: Did you burn dinner or sleep or sleep through the ringing of your alarm clock? It might not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is not loud enough.
- Your phone: Are you missing text messages? You’re more likely to miss text messages than phone calls since no one makes calls nowadays.
You’re missing crucial sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your family and friends are becoming afraid to drive with you.
Sign #3: You keep asking people to repeat what they said
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? It’s likely that it’s a problem with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat what they said when they talk to you. This is especially true if people do repeat what they said and you still don’t hear what they’re saying. Looks like a hearing test is needed.
Sign #4: Is everybody starting to mumble?
You could also call this sign #3-A, because they go pretty well together. You should recognize that people most likely aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it feel like this. It’s stressful to always feel like people are mumbling about you, so it might be a relief to learn they’re actually not. The reality is that you’re just not hearing them due to your loss of hearing.
This can be especially pronounced if you’re attempting to listen to somebody who has a higher pitched voice, or if you have to have a conversation in a loud space, such as a restaurant.
Sign #5: Family members prompt you to get a hearing assessment (or get hearing aids)
Your friends and family most likely know you pretty well. It’s likely that at least some of them have pretty healthy hearing. If your family members (especially younger) are informing you that something is wrong with your hearing, it’s a good idea to listen to them (no pun intended).
It’s understandable that you would want to rationalize away this advice. Maybe you think they just caught you on a bad day or something. But you could give your hearing an advantage by taking their advice.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance problems
When you have ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition known as tinnitus. It’s not at all uncommon. There are a couple of reasons why you may experience more ringing in your ears when you have hearing loss:
- Damage can cause both: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be caused by damage. 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: In your normal day-to-day life, tinnitus can be overpowered by the everyday noises you encounter. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.
It could be a sign that you’re dealing with 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 engagement
Maybe you’ve always been an introvert at heart, and that’s why social interactions have grown completely draining. Or it may be possible that you’re not hearing as well as you once did.
Your hearing may be the reason why you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. Your brain is attempting to fill in the gaps that you can’t hear. This extra effort by your brain can leave you feeling exhausted. So when you’re in especially challenging situations (like a noisy space), you may experience even more exhaustion.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
Honestly, hearing damage is normal to everybody to some degree. If or when you develop hearing loss is heavily dependent on how well you protect your ears when you’re subjected to loud sound.
So it might be an indication that the banana is changing if you encounter any of these signs. Luckily, you can take matters into your own hands and call us for an appointment. You’ll be able to get treatment as soon as you are diagnosed.