You know you’re feeling moody these days but you’re not really certainly why. Well, it was irritating earlier today when you felt left out of the meeting at work. Your daughter got up and suddenly left the house after becoming irritated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps you could be suffering from hearing loss?

Hearing loss is a problem 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 minor hearing loss puts you at risk for memory issues, cognitive decline, and even depression. You could have a manageable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely an indication of aging. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, maybe you missed crucial conversational queues because you couldn’t hear them. The fact is, if you can’t hear properly during your everyday life, it can become extremely frustrating.

Get the facts about hearing loss

Learning a little more about what you’re struggling with is a practical place to start. Hearing loss does happen to lots of individuals due to the aging process. But years of exposure to overly loud noise can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be a result of lots of noise sources, such as mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The delicate mechanisms in your ear can be harmed by lots of noises in the world.

Chronic diseases that become more prevalent as we age are a possible factor as well. High blood pressure, for instance, or diabetes can both interfere with blood flow, which can cause harm to the inner ear.

Recognize the signs

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

• You always feel like you are being excluded from the conversations
• When there is background sound, like an AC or fan running, you have a hard time hearing words
• You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time

If you notice any of these hearing loss symptoms, it’s no wonder you’re cranky! Depression and social solitude can be the consequence of feeling separated from your world.

Managing hearing loss

One of the very first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have seen you having a hard time hearing. It’s a crucial conversation even if it’s a challenging one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next move and will clarify things for you. Try to get a family member to go along with you to your appointment. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive friend with you.

Your hearing examination will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. If hearing loss is determined, we will advise the next strategy for you depending on the results of the exam. In the majority of cases, that will entail getting hearing aids. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to choose from.

Picking out quality hearing aids

We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your unique type of hearing loss. Take some to time choose the correct brand and model for your needs, this could require testing several styles and models. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound these days. They can block out background noises, link to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to determine which brands and models come with the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.

Consider the style you want for your hearing aids, as well. Some models have no color and are almost 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!

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment

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