You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not exactly sure why. Well, it was irritating earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at the office. The other night your daughter seemed annoyed with you when you asked her to turn up the volume of the TV over and over again resulting in her abruptly leaving the house. What’s the deal with that?
Perhaps the real issue is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for roughly 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even minor hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, dementia, and even depression. You could have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely a sign of aging. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, maybe you missed critical conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be very aggravating when you can’t hear during your daily life.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to begin is finding out more about what you’re coping with. For many people, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But years of exposure to overly loud noise can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were a teenager, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to hearing loss. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of noises in the world.
Another potential cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we grow older. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which can cause harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People normally take their hearing for granted, so when it begins to fail they don’t notice the signs:
- When there is background noise, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
- You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
- When individuals are having discussions, you always feel left out
If you detect any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Feeling isolated from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.
Create a plan to manage hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have noticed you having a difficult time hearing. It might seem like a challenging discussion but it’s a really worthwhile one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing examination should be your next step and will clarify things for you. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be most helpful.
Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how extensive it has become. If hearing loss is identified, we will advise the next strategy for you based on the results of the test. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. Don’t worry, there are so many choices and features that you’re sure to get hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
Deciding on quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. You will most likely need to try several brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing requirements. Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background sounds, link to smartphones and computers, and even pinpoint the direction of a sound. Do some research to determine which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.
Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, also. They come in lots of fashionable colors or with no color at all, so they’re nearly invisible.
Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you believe you might be suffering with hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/