Hearing loss is usually a frustrating condition that can be caused by a variety of things. There are some circumstances where hearing loss is a consequence of a more serious underlying health condition and isn’t just the result of aging or an injury.
Look out for these hearing loss red flags
There are varieties of red flags that may be an indication of hearing loss and that it’s time to schedule a hearing assessment appointment. Here are a few of those red flags that should make you pay attention.
Difficulties hearing on the telephone
You may be having a hard time hearing phone calls even with the volume setting. If you are constantly 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 evaluation.
Difficulty making out conversations
Although getting lost when you’re having a conversation isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, it may be a sign of hearing loss if you frequently have difficulty processing the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time.
Neighbors and family members are complaining about a loud TV
Following along with tv shows, especially when there’s dialog and music, can be a challenge. We need to understand that the sound doesn’t automatically get clearer when you turn the volume up. But if you continuously need the television turned up to a high volume that is uncomfortable for others in the room or if your neighbors can hear your television, it is time to check your hearing.
Trouble hearing in noisy settings
If you are in a public location and the background noise makes it hard to hear the other people with you, it generally means you struggle to filter out background noise and focus on speech. This is one of the most common complaints of people who are going through hearing loss.
You keep asking people what they said
Simply because you can’t hear someone mumbling several feet from you doesn’t mean you have hearing loss. Still, it could be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech correctly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Failing to understand what people say
It can be a sign of high frequency hearing loss, often an embarrassing one, if you frequently misunderstand what people are saying. This form of hearing loss makes it challenging to distinguish speech.
If you are noticing any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing exam as soon as you can. Fortunately, the stigma that was once related to hearing loss has nearly vanished, the exam is easy, and with the modern advances in hearing aid technologies, there’s no reason for you to continue to suffer with hearing loss.