Your workplace recently adopted the trend of open-office floor plans, promoting cooperation and teamwork. However, you find yourself having difficulties in this new setup. Not because you miss the privacy of cubicle walls, but because the increased noise makes it hard to follow conversations.
The inability to follow along with conversations in noisy settings often acts as an early indicator of hearing loss, despite conventional hearing exams producing normal results. This suggests that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the capacity to comprehend speech effectively.
Significant brain power is required to undertake the complex task of speech comprehension. Distinguishing speech from background noise and focusing on particular voices amongst a cacophony of sounds requires optimal hearing capabilities.
As hearing starts to decline, the brain faces difficulties in separating and processing speech signals amongst competing sounds. Consequently, settings like bustling offices or crowded restaurants become mentally fatiguing.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Here are a number of ways that early hearing loss can manifest:
- Problems understanding conversations in noisy environments.
- Increased mental exhaustion due to heightened concentration needed for listening.
- Distraction and reduced engagement in social interactions.
Testing for hearing loss
Uncovering such difficulties can be challenging, particularly when conventional diagnostics suggest normal hearing. However, researchers are looking at innovative tests to diagnose early stages of hearing loss:
- The Eye Test: A special set of glasses is utilized in this test. The movement and dilation of your pupils can be tracked with these glasses. If your pupils behave in a particular way, it implies that you’re concentrating a little harder than usual. But it may be an indication that you’re straining to hear if this happens in a loud setting.
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device monitors the electrical EEG signals transmitted by your ears to your brain. If these signals fluctuate in a certain way while you’re in a crowded or loud setting, that could be a firm indication of some problems with your hearing.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, coupled with personal observation, are able to identify hearing issues in their very early stages.
The benefits of early detection
There are two significant benefits to early detection.
- It offers clarity regarding challenges faced in environments like open offices, alleviating potential frustrations.
- Mental decline related to untreated hearing loss can be prevented with early detection.
Think about getting help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Overall mental function and auditory health will be improved by early diagnosis. Contact us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you might have.
