Your workplace recently adopted the trend of open-office floor plans, promoting cooperation and teamwork. However, you find yourself struggling in this new setup. It’s because the increased noise is making it difficult to follow along with conversation and not because you miss the privacy of cubical walls.
Even if established hearing tests indicate totally fine hearing, the inability to hear conversations in loud environments is often an early sign of hearing loss. This suggests that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Speech comprehension is a complex cognitive task that involves considerable brainpower. Differentiating speech from background noise and focusing on specific voices amongst a cacophony of sounds requires optimal hearing abilities.
It becomes increasingly demanding for the brain to focus in on speech in noisy settings as we get older. Consequently, settings like bustling offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
How to recognize the early signs of hearing loss
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in a variety of ways:
- The brain has to work overtime to comprehend speech causing increased mental exhaustion.
- Difficulty understanding conversations in loud environments.
- Social isolation.
Testing for hearing loss
Detecting such challenges can be tricky, particularly when conventional diagnostics indicate normal hearing. Here are some tests being developed by researchers to diagnose hearing loss in its early stages:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device monitors the electrical EEG signals transmitted by your ears to your brain. If these signals change in a specific way while you’re in a crowded or loud setting, that could be a firm indication of some issues with your hearing.
- The Eye Test: A special pair of glasses is utilized in this test. These glasses can keep track of the movement and dilation of your pupils. If you’re concentrating a little harder than usual your pupils will behave in a specific way. But it could be an indication that you’re straining to hear if this happens in a loud setting.
These tests, in conjunction with personal observations, attempt to identify hearing issues at their emergent phases, facilitating early intervention.
What are the benefits of early detection?
There are two important benefits to early detection.
- It provides clarity regarding challenges faced in environments like open offices, mitigating potential frustrations.
- Dealing with hearing loss promptly prevents mental decline associated with untreated hearing impairments.
Consider finding help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Total mental function and auditory health will be improved by early diagnosis. Schedule a hearing exam today and investigate solutions right for you.