Have you ever wondered if you are one of the more than 48 million Americans with hearing loss? If so, you don’t have to ponder this point any longer. Below is a list of the top nine signs of this common condition.
Trouble Hearing on the Telephone
Over the last year, most of us have spent more time than ever before connecting with loved ones on the telephone. If you find yourself having to constantly turn up the volume on your cellphone, this may be an indication you are having difficulty hearing.
Turning Up the TV Volume too Loud
Unlike your telephone volume, which is only evident to you, having to turn the volume up on your television can impact everyone in your home as well as any neighbors you share walls with. Television programs mix dialogue with background noise and musical scores, making it hard to catch every conversation between characters. While turning the volume up may work at first, this also makes the distracting noises louder, which does not solve your problem.
If anyone has told you that you are listening to the television too loud, this is a sign you may have hearing loss.
Trouble Following a Conversation
As you age, it is common to have trouble processing multiple incoming signals at once. If you frequently find yourself having a hard time following a conversation when two or more people are talking at once, this is a sign you may have hearing loss.
Conversations Make You Tired
Having to strain in order to follow a conversation can be both mentally and physically exhausting. If you find that you frequently have a headache or feel fatigued after a long conversation with friends, family or coworkers, this may be a sign you were struggling to hear, a symptom of hearing loss.
Trouble Hearing in Noisy Environments
With more businesses safely opening back up, you may begin to notice you have a harder time hearing when sitting in Texas Tradition or other loud restaurant than when you were having an intimate meal at home. This is because of the addition of loud background noise, such as music and the conversations from other parties. A common sign of hearing loss is being unable to focus on speech when there is background noise.
Often Saying “What?”
Do you think those around you are mumbling more than they used to? This may be because your brain is having trouble processing the speech sounds it is receiving, a common sign of hearing loss.
Misunderstandings Are Common
Have you been in a position where you answered a question incorrectly or had an embarrassing misunderstanding because you misheard something? Misunderstandings are often seen at the beginning stages of high-frequency hearing loss, which affects your ability to understand speech.
Trouble Hearing Women and Children
When high-frequency hearing loss occurs, you will have trouble hearing sounds in a specific frequency range. Women and children speak in higher pitches, making these some of the first sounds you’ll have trouble hearing.
Becoming Increasingly Frustrated
When you cannot hear what others are saying or have trouble following a conversation, it is normal to become annoyed or frustrated. If you feel like you are constantly annoyed with others, it may be a sign of hearing loss.
To learn more about the signs of hearing loss or to schedule a hearing evaluation, contact Todays’ Hearing!