You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not really certainly why. Well, you did feel excluded earlier this morning when no one bothered to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was aggravating. Last night your daughter seemed annoyed with you when you asked her to turn the tv volume up over and over again leading to her suddenly leaving the house. Why would she do that?
Perhaps the real issue is hearing loss!
As you get older hearing loss can sneak up on you and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even minor hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even dementia, according to some research. You could have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s simply a sign of aging. Maybe, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, perhaps you missed critical conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be very aggravating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.
Learn more about hearing loss
A good place to begin is learning more about what you’re coping with. For many individuals, hearing loss is a natural side effect of getting older. But for others, it may be caused by years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in heavy traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging noise that can deteriorate the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.
Another potential cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common as we grow older. When you have disorders that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.
Recognize the signs
People usually don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:
- You frequently say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said
- When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
- When individuals are conversing, you always feel left out
If you detect any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re grumpy! Depression and social isolation can be the outcome of feeling separated from your world.
Develop a plan to treat hearing loss
One of the initial things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have seen you having a hard time hearing. It might seem like a challenging conversation but it’s a very important one. A hearing exam should be next on your list, particularly if people have observed you having a difficult time hearing. Ask your loved one to go along with you to your appointment. A supportive, calming friend can be extremely helpful.
Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how extensive it has become. Depending on the results of your exam, we will be able to determine your best plan going forward. Normally, hearing aids will be a major part of the treatment plan. Don’t stress, there are so many choices and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!
Picking out quality hearing aids
We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. Take some to time determine the correct brand and model for your needs, this may require testing several styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than simply amplify sound. They can determine the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even link to smartphones and computers. Different brands and types of hearing aids have different features, so do some research to find out what features you require to better your life.
Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, also. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.
If you think you’re dealing with hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. 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/
