You’re not really sure why, but you’ve been feeling moody lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier today when no one took the time to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was irritating. The other night your daughter seemed annoyed with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again resulting in her suddenly leaving the house. What’s the deal with that?
Perhaps the real problem is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for about 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even minor hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. You might have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely an indication of aging. Perhaps, you missed significant conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually exclude you from the meeting after all. The fact is, if you can’t hear very well during your everyday life, it can become extremely frustrating.
Discover more about hearing loss
Finding out a little more about what you’re dealing with is a practical place to start. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But for others, it might be caused by years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the fragile mechanisms that help you hear.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as one grows older are a potential factor as well. When you have conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to fail they don’t notice the signs:
- You always feel like you are being excluded from the discussions
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
- Finding it difficult to understand words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
If you recognize any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Depression and social isolation can be the result of feeling separated from your world.
Develop a plan to manage hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have noticed you working hard to hear conversations or if you say “What?” a little too frequently. It’s a crucial discussion even if it’s a challenging one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing test should be your next move and will clarify things for you. Try to get a family member to accompany you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive friend with you.
Your hearing test 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 course of action going forward. In most cases, that will involve getting hearing aids. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to choose from.
Deciding on quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your individual type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to test a few brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing requirements. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to find out which brands and models provide the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, too. Some models have no color and are almost invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.
Schedule a hearing test with our qualified hearing specialists today if you suspect you may be experiencing hearing loss. 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/
