Being concerned about your health is completely natural, and hearing health isn’t something that people often give enough consideration to. Monitoring your hearing health is something that can be difficult if you don’t know what to look out for, but it’s something that should be acted on as soon as possible if you notice any problems.
There are all kinds of things that can cause hearing damage and hearing loss, and it’s not restricted to a certain demographic either. That means that your hearing health should be something you’re concerned about at all ages, no matter what you do.
Symptoms To Look Out For
If you’re going to monitor your hearing health, you should know the symptoms of hearing loss. They’re not always going to be obvious, and paying close attention is encouraged if you feel like you’re at risk.
Muffling Of Sound
While it might sound obvious, the muffling of sound is something that can happen over time and might not be noticeable if you’re not paying attention. If you’re having trouble hearing things clearly, it could be a sign that your hearing is failing. Experiencing hearing loss is very rarely something that happens all of a sudden and will start with conditions that tend to worsen over time. It’s worth noting that muffling of hearing doesn’t always indicate that your hearing is failing and could be pointing to other issues like blocked ears.
You Struggle To Hear Consonants
If you can’t tell that your hearing is muffled, you may be able to recognize it based on other tells. For example, consonants are usually the quieter and less pronounced parts of a word, making them overall harder to hear. Either way, if a person is speaking clearly, it shouldn’t be an issue to single them out. If you’re having trouble hearing consonants, it could be a sign.
Louder Devices
Yet another very subtle sign that your hearing is failing is that you need to have your devices louder than you usually would. This is not something that the person experiencing hearing loss would catch on themselves and might be pointed out by another individual. For example, if you need your TV to be louder than others you’re watching with find comfortable, it can be a clear indicator that your hearing may be failing. If you find yourself needing to have your devices louder than usual, don’t just brush it off as the device is quieter than it used to be.
Your Ears Are Ringing
One of the signs that are on the less subtle side is a ringing in your ears. It’s not always a sign that your hearing is failing, but if it doesn’t seem to go away quickly; it might be something you should be concerned about. A constant ringing in your ears is a sign of tinnitus, and something you should contact your audiologist about.
Repetition
If you find yourself constantly asking others to repeat themselves through difficulty understanding what they have said, it could mean that they’re not speaking clearly. However, if you find that it’s happening a lot more than it should – it could be a sign that your hearing is failing you. It’s not normal to need others to repeat themselves all of the time, and you should have your hearing health checked as soon as possible.
You Avoid Conversation
When you’re experiencing hearing loss, keeping up a conversation can be difficult, even without knowing the reason. Trying to make out what the other person is saying can take a lot of concentration and stress, which could lead an individual to avoid conversations altogether. If you don’t usually avoid conversations but have found yourself doing so more often – consider the other symptoms.
Talking Leaves You Tired
Of course, there are many people who find it difficult to keep up a social appearance, but there are other reasons you may feel tired after speaking with others. As mentioned before, it can take a lot of concentration to focus on what another person is saying when you’re struggling to understand them. If you haven’t made the link between your difficulty understanding others and hearing loss, it’s worth thinking about.
You Catch Yourself Reading Their Lips Instead Of Eyes
It’s quite normal to hold eye contact during conversation, but if you find yourself gravitating to their lips to try and get a better understanding of what they’re saying, it could be a sign that you’re having trouble hearing them properly. Try breaking away from that habit and seeing whether or not it makes it difficult to speak with others.
If you want to know more about these symptoms, you can reach out to The Hearing Spa today.
