You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not quite certainly why. Well, you did feel excluded earlier this morning when no one bothered to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Last night your daughter seemed irritated 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. Why would she do that?
Maybe the real issue is hearing loss!
Hearing loss is a problem for roughly 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even minor hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory loss, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. You might have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely an indication of aging. Perhaps, you missed essential conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. The truth is, if you can’t hear properly during your day-to-day life, it can become incredibly frustrating.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to start is finding out more about what you’re dealing with. Hearing loss does happen to lots of people due to the aging process. But for others, it might be due to years of noise overexposure. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in loud traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can erode the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as one grows older are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for example, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which causes harm to the inner ear.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is frequently taken for granted:
- You always feel like you are being left out of the discussions
- Finding it difficult to comprehend words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat themselves
If you recognize any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social solitude can be the outcome of feeling separated from your world.
Treating hearing loss
Begin by asking a family member or a loved one if they have seen you struggling to keep up with conversations or if you say “What?” a little too often. It might seem like a difficult discussion but it’s a very important one. A hearing examination should be the next thing that you do, especially if people have noticed you having a hard time hearing. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be most helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re dealing with hearing loss and how extensive it has become. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to specify your best course of action going forward. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. Don’t stress, there are so many options and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!
How to select quality hearing aids
Everybody’s hearing loss is unique and we will help you determine what treatment will be best for yours. You will most likely need to evaluate a few brands and models before you determine the best fit for your specific taste and hearing requirements. Today’s hearing aids do a lot more than simply amplify sound. They can block out background sounds, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids offer different features, so research them to determine what features you need to improve your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. They come in many snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they’re practically invisible.
Schedule a hearing test with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your grumpy state of mind?
References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/
