Bananas taste much different then they did in the past. There are rather different varieties of bananas being cultivated today by banana farmers. Today’s banana can develop successfully in a wide variety of climates, are more robust, and can develop faster. And they taste quite different. So why haven’t you noticed the great banana swap? Well, the reality is that it happened slowly, over time. You never noticed the gradual switch.
Hearing loss can happen in a similar way. It isn’t like you wake up one day and can’t hear a thing. In most cases of hearing loss, it goes unnoticed because it develops so slowly.
That’s regrettable because early intervention can help maintain your hearing. You can take measures to protect your hearing if you’re aware that it’s at risk. That’s why it may be significant to watch for these seven indications your hearing might be waning.
You should have your hearing tested if you experience any of these 7 signs
Hearing loss develops gradually and over time, but it’s not always well understood. It’s not as if you’ll go to a loud rock concert and the next day find yourself entirely incapable of hearing. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) increases over time. The sooner you deal with your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. You shouldn’t put off on this because untreated hearing loss has been connected to issues such as social isolation, depression, and dementia.
You should, uh, keep your ear to the ground for these seven signs that you might be experiencing hearing loss. The only way to know for certain is to get a hearing exam, but these indicators might encourage you to schedule an appointment earlier than you otherwise would have.
Sign #1: You keep turning up the volume on your devices
Are you continually turning up the volume on your devices? Maybe they’re mixing the sound on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite actors have started to mumble. But it’s also possible (if not probable) that you’re hearing is slowly going, and that you’re increasing the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
If others keep telling you the volume is too loud this is especially likely. They can often notice hearing trouble in you sooner than you can.
Sign #2: You failed to hear the phone ringing (or the doorbell)
It could be an indication that you’re having hearing issues if you are constantly missing day to day sounds. Here are some common sounds you may be missing:
- Your doorbell (or someone knocking on the door): When your good friend suddenly walks into your house, consider the possibility that they did actually knock, you just missed it.
- Alarms and timers: Did you overcook dinner or sleep or sleep through the ringing of your alarm clock? It may not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you’re missing them? Nobody makes phone calls nowadays, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a call.
You’re missing important sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your family and friends are becoming afraid to drive with you.
Sign #3: You’re constantly needing people to repeat what they said
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most frequently used words? It’s likely that it’s a problem with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they’re talking with you. This is particularly true if people do repeat what they said and you still can’t hear what they say. Seems like a hearing test is in order.
Sign #4: It sounds as if everyone’s always mumbling
This one goes fairly well with #3 and we might even call it #3-A. You should realize that people most likely aren’t mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it seem that way. It’s stressful to always think people are mumbling about you, so it may be a relief to find out they’re actually not. Instead, it’s more likely that you’re simply having a difficult time hearing what they’re saying.
This can be especially pronounced if you’re attempting to listen to somebody who has a higher pitched voice, or if you have to have a conversation in a loud space, such as a restaurant.
Sign #5: Loved ones keep suggesting you get your hearing tested
Your friends and family probably know you quite well. It’s likely that at least some of them have pretty healthy hearing. It’s a smart idea to pay attention to your family members (particularly the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
We get that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this recommendation away. Perhaps you think they just caught you on a bad day or something. But you could do your hearing a favor by heeding their advice.
Sign #6: Your ears are ringing or you’re experiencing balance issues
When you’re experiencing ringing in your ears, you’re dealing with a condition called tinnitus. It’s very common. When you’re dealing with hearing loss, your tinnitus can become severe for a couple of reasons:
- Damage can cause both: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be the result of damage. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Tinnitus is more obvious when you have hearing loss: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your daily life. But as those everyday noises recede to the background (as a result of hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes relatively louder and considerably more noticeable.
It could be a sign that you’re dealing with problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance problems and vertigo. And that means (no shock here), yes, you need to come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: Socializing leaves you feeling fatigued
Maybe the reason why social situations have become so tiring is because you’ve always been an introvert. Or perhaps, and just hear us out here (again with the puns), your hearing isn’t what it once was.
Your hearing might be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain works overtime to fill in those gaps. This is fatiguing (no matter how good your brain is), especially over the long run. So you might experience even more exhaustion when you’re in an especially noisy setting.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage in our lifetimes. If or when you develop hearing loss has a lot to do with how well you protect your ears when you’re exposed to loud noise.
So if you’ve encountered any of these signs, it’s a sign that the banana is changing. Thankfully, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get evaluated! The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to receive treatment.
