Hearing loss can be caused by numerous things and is generally incredibly frustrating. Although hearing loss is commonly the result of age or an injury, in some situations, hearing loss may be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition.
Watch out for these hearing loss red flags
There are varieties of red flags that may be a sign of hearing loss and that it’s time to schedule a hearing assessment appointment. Pay attention if any of these red flags show up.
Difficulties hearing on the phone
Even with a volume control setting, you might find it hard to hear the individual 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 possible for a hearing exam.
Trouble following conversations
Sometimes, we get lost when we’re having conversations even when our hearing is healthy, but if it occurs often, especially when more than two people are talking, it’s probably a sign of hearing loss.
People around you are complaining about the increasing volume of your TV
It can be challenging to hear tv shows, especially if music is combined with dialog. It’s important to recognize that cranking the television up louder doesn’t always clear up the sound. But it’s time to have your hearing assessed if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you constantly need the volume on a really loud setting.
Difficulty hearing in loud settings
It usually means you’re struggling to separate speech from background noise if hearing in a public place has become a challenge. Individuals who are going through hearing loss most commonly have this complaint.
You keep asking people what they said
Just because you aren’t able to hear somebody mumbling several feet away doesn’t mean you have hearing loss. Still, if you say the word “what” more than any other word in your vocabulary, it may be a red flag that you aren’t getting sound signals clearly in order to process speech properly.
Failing to understand what people are saying
Misunderstanding what people say can be embarrassing and is often a sign 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 exam as soon as you can. Luckily, the stigma that was once associated with hearing loss no longer exists, the exam is easy, and with the modern advances in hearing aid technologies, there is no reason for you to continue to suffer with hearing loss.