Attending a holiday party and meeting up with friends and loved ones is a wonderful part of the holiday season. However, the experience might be dampened if you’re struggling to hear the person you’re speaking with. This could be the scenario if you have untreated hearing loss.
Signs of Untreated Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is a very gradual process, and you might not notice it happening at first. And, even after a person does notice signs of hearing loss, it’s not uncommon to delay acting on it—it’s estimated that one in five people with hearing loss seek help with their hearing. You may even develop habits, consciously or unconsciously, to compensate for hearing loss.
Recognizing signs of hearing loss is crucial if you want to stay on top of your hearing health and well-being. Here are some signs to watch out for.
Asking People to Repeat Themselves
In the early stages of hearing loss, the sounds you lose are high-frequency sounds, which make up the majority of consonant sounds, like s, h or f. When you only hear the vowel sounds when people are speaking, it may sound like they’re mumbling, causing you to mishear what they say. If you catch yourself asking for repeats often, or if you feel irritated because you think everyone around you is mumbling, it might be time for a hearing test.
Difficulty Following Conversations
Another sign of hearing loss is hearing what the other person says, but struggling or taking some time to register what they said. This may not initially be perceived as hearing loss, as you can still hear them. Still, the difficulty in keeping up with conversations indicates that the auditory complex in your brain is struggling to process sound information, which is typical of hearing loss.
You will especially notice this phenomenon in crowded places, such as holiday parties. As conversations fly back and forth, and perhaps your conversation group swells in size, with myriad voices layering on top of each other, it can be overwhelming for an overworked auditory complex.
Background Noise Causes Frustration or Distraction
This one will be very prominent at holiday parties, as there’s often lots of background noise: holiday music, other people chatting, kids playing games and food being served can all create a cacophony of background noise. Under normal circumstances, the auditory complex is adept at filtering out background noise and focusing on the primary things you need to listen to. An overworked auditory complex, on the other hand, will struggle with that filtering and cause you to be much more aware of the background noise around you.
This may distract you from the person you’re speaking with, and it could even lead to frustration. Noticing background noise and its effect on you could be a good indicator of untreated hearing loss.
Is It Time to Seek Help?
Untreated hearing loss can take a massive toll on your mental health, social relationships and overall well-being. Don’t wait to treat hearing loss; if you’ve noticed signs, it’s time for a hearing test. Contact Decibel Hearing Services today to schedule an appointment. We’re happy to start your hearing loss treatment journey with you this holiday season.