You’re not quite sure why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel left out earlier this morning when no one bothered to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming irritated when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. Why would she do that?

Perhaps the real issue is hearing loss!

Hearing loss is an issue for about 40 million individuals in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research reveals that even slight hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, dementia, and even depression. You might have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely a sign of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, perhaps you missed crucial conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. The fact is, if you can’t hear properly during your everyday life, it can become extremely frustrating.

Learn more about hearing loss

Finding out a little more about what you’re struggling with is a practical place to begin. For many individuals, hearing loss is a normal side effect of getting older. But for others, it might be due to years of noise overexposure. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and picking up leaves with that loud leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can erode 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 conditions that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.

Recognize the signs

People typically don’t recognize when their hearing begins to go because hearing is often taken for granted:

• Struggling to understand words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC
• You always feel like you are being excluded from the conversations
• You’re always asking people to repeat what they said or even worse, saying ‘what’ a lot

If you recognize any of these hearing loss signs, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Depression and social isolation can be the outcome of feeling detached from your world.

Treating hearing loss

One of the first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have observed you having a hard time hearing. It’s a crucial discussion even if it’s a difficult one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next step and will simplify things for you. Ask your loved one to accompany you to your appointment. A supportive, calming presence can be extremely helpful.

Your hearing exam will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how significant it has become. If hearing loss is determined, we will recommend the next strategy for you depending on the results of the exam. In most instances, that will entail getting hearing aids. Don’t worry, there are so many choices and features that you’re certain to get hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle!

Picking out quality hearing aids

We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your individual type of hearing loss. Take some to time find the right brand and model for your needs, this could require testing several styles and models. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than just amplify sound. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction of a sound. Do some research to find out which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and needs.

And, don’t forget to think about styles. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in dazzling colors.

Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists today if you suspect you might be experiencing hearing loss. It’s time to get out of that cranky mindset and we can help!

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment

References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/