You aren’t quite certain why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, it was frustrating 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 the tv volume up over and over again resulting in her suddenly leaving the house. Why would she do that?
Perhaps the real issue is hearing loss!
As you get older hearing loss can take you by surprise and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even minor hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, cognitive decline, and even depression. What you might think is simply an indication of age, may actually be a treatable medical condition. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, maybe you missed critical conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be exceedingly frustrating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Discover more about hearing loss
A good place to begin is discovering more about what you’re coping with. Hearing loss does happen to many people due to the aging process. But for others, it may be due to years of noise overexposure. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, such as mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Another possible source of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common with age. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both affect blood flow, which causes harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People often take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to fail they don’t detect the signs:
- When individuals are conversing, you always feel excluded
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- When there’s background noise, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
If you notice any of these hearing loss indicators, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling detached from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.
Treating hearing loss
One of the very first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have noticed you having a hard time hearing. It’s an important conversation even if it’s a challenging one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing examination should be your next step and will clarify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be most helpful.
Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how significant it has become. Depending on the results of your test, we will be able to specify your best plan moving forward. Typically, 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.
Picking out quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is different and we will help you figure out what treatment will be best for yours. You will most likely need to evaluate several brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing requirements. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than simply amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, link to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids include different features, so research them to determine what features you require to improve your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, also. They come in various snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they are nearly invisible.
If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, make an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists right away. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your cranky state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/