Hearing loss is generally a frustrating condition that can be the result of a number of things. Although hearing loss is commonly caused by age or an injury, in some situations, hearing loss may be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical issue.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should look for
Hearing loss will frequently throw up a variety of red flags indicating it’s time for a hearing assessment. Here are some of those red flags that should make you take notice.
Having trouble hearing phone calls
Even with a volume control setting, you may find it difficult to hear the person you are talking to on the telephone. If you are continually cranking the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you should schedule an appointment as soon as you can for a hearing evaluation.
Difficulty following conversations
Even though getting lost during a conversation isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, it might be a sign of hearing loss if you regularly have a hard time processing the conversation when two or more people are talking simultaneously.
Family & neighbors are complaining about a loud TV
Following along with tv shows, particularly when there’s music and dialog, can be challenging. It’s worthwhile to know that turning the television up louder doesn’t always clear up the sound. But if you continuously need the tv turned up to a high volume that is uncomfortable for others in the room or if your neighbors are hearing your television, it is time to check your hearing.
Difficulty hearing in loud settings
If you are in a public place and the background noise makes it hard to hear the others with you, it generally means you struggle to filter out background noise and tune into speech. People who are going through hearing loss most frequently have this complaint.
You say “what” a lot
Simply because you aren’t able to hear someone mumbling several feet from you doesn’t mean you have hearing loss. Still, it could be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech properly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Misunderstanding what people say
Misunderstanding what people are saying can be awkward and is often an indication of high frequency hearing loss. This means you are not capable of discerning the sounds of speech.
If you are dealing with any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing assessment as soon as you can. The good news is, hearing testing is simple and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to keep having trouble hearing.
