The last time you had dinner with family, you were pretty frustrated. It wasn’t because of family crisis (this time). No, the source of the frustration was simple: it was loud, and you couldn’t hear anything. So you didn’t hear the details about Nancy’s raise, and you didn’t have the ability to ask about Todd’s new dog. And that was really annoying. For the most part, you blame the acoustics. But you can’t completely discount the possibility that maybe your hearing is starting to go bad.
It’s not usually recommended to self diagnose hearing loss because it’s truly difficult to do. But there are some early warning signs you should keep on your radar. When enough red flags show up, it’s time to call us for a hearing exam.
Early signs of hearing impairment
Not every symptom and sign of hearing loss is noticeable. But you could be dealing with hearing loss if you can relate to any of the items on this list.
Here are some of the most common early signs of hearing loss:
- You discover it’s hard to make out particular words. This symptom takes place when consonants become hard to hear and differentiate. The “sh” and “th” sounds are the most prevalent examples. In some cases, it’s the s- and f-sounds or p- and t-sounds that get lost.
- You have a hard time following conversations in a crowded or noisy place. This is frequently an early indication of hearing loss.
- You hear ringing in your ears: This ringing (it can actually be other noises too) is called tinnitus. If you have ringing or other chronic sounds in your ears, a hearing test is your best bet because tinnitus, though it’s often an early warning of hearing impairment, can also indicate other health issues.
- You notice that some sounds become oppressively loud. It’s one of the more uncommon early warning signs related to hearing loss, but hyperacusis is common enough that you might find yourself encountering its symptoms. If you are having this problem, particularly if it persists, it’s time for a hearing test.
- You keep requesting that people repeat themselves. This is particularly true if you’re asking numerous people to speak slower, say something again, or speak up. This early sign of hearing loss may be happening without you even noticing.
- You’re suddenly finding it difficult to hear when you’re talking on the phone: Texting is popular nowadays, so you may not take as many phone calls as you once did. But you might be experiencing another early warning sign if you’re having trouble understanding the calls you do take.
- High-pitched sounds are getting lost. Perhaps you just realized your teapot was whistling after five minutes. Or maybe, you never even hear the doorbell ringing. Hearing loss usually affects specific frequencies normally higher pitched frequencies.
- A friend points out that your media devices are getting increasingly louder. Perhaps you keep turning up the volume on your cell phone. Or perhaps, your TV speakers are as loud as they go. Normally, you’re not the one that observes the loud volume, it’s your children, maybe your neighbor, or your friends.
Get a hearing assessment
You may have one or more of these early warnings but the only real way to know the health of your hearing is to get a hearing exam.
In general, any single one of these early red flags could be evidence that you’re developing some kind of hearing impairment. A hearing assessment will be able to tell what degree of impairment, if any, exists. Once we identify the degree of hearing loss, we can figure out the best course of treatment.
This means your next family gathering can be much more fun.