Hearing loss is a progressive condition. Because it develops slowly, it is common for individuals in the early stages to not notice they are missing certain sounds, and like most medical conditions, the best results come from early intervention.
Below is a list of the top five signs that it is time to schedule a hearing test.
1. You Can’t Hear Well with Background Noise
Carrying on a conversation in an area with a lot of background noise is hard for anyone. But for those with hearing loss, it is even harder to distinguish speech from background sounds. If you are out to dinner with a few friends at the Little Calf Creamery and Cafe and are unable to follow the conversation well enough to chime in, this can be a very isolating experience.
Experts suspect this is one reason why there is a correlation between untreated hearing loss and feelings of loneliness and depression.
2. You Ask People to Repeat Themselves Often
A common warning sign of hearing loss is frequently having to ask people to repeat themselves, especially women and children. This is because their voices are usually high-pitched, which is the frequency range of sounds that is often the first to go.
3. You Turn Up the TV Volume Too High
Has anyone in your home complained that you are listening to the television too loudly? If so, this is a sign you need to get your hearing checked. Television shows and movies are hard for people with hearing loss, as it can be difficult to hear the important dialogue over the loud background noise and musical score.
4. You Realize You’re Missing Normal Sounds
When is the last time you heard the hum of your refrigerator or birds chirping? There are a lot of everyday sounds that happen in the background that you don’t think about. That is until they are no longer there.
5. You Have a Hard Time Talking on the Phone
When talking on the phone, you miss out on facial expressions and lip-reading, two visual cues you may not have been aware you were depending on in order to carry on a conversation. It can be especially hard to hear someone on the phone if they are talking to you from a noisy area.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss by 2050. If you think you’re one of them, now is the time to do something about it.
To learn more about treating your hearing loss or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert for an evaluation, contact Decibel Hearing today.