Your workplace has chosen to encourage teamwork and cooperation by opening up the office floor plan. However, you find yourself struggling in this new setup. Not because you miss the privacy of cubicle walls, but because the increased noise makes it difficult to follow conversations.
The inability to follow along with conversations in loud environments often acts as an early indicator of hearing loss, despite conventional hearing tests producing normal outcomes. You still may have trouble discerning conversations even with “Normal” hearing.
The complexity of speech perception
Considerable brain power is needed to tackle the complex task of speech recognition. Differentiating speech from background noise and focusing on particular voices amongst a cacophony of sounds demands optimal hearing abilities.
It becomes increasingly demanding for the brain to focus in on speech in loud settings as we get older. Because of this, it becomes mentally exhausting to be in noisy environments like restaurants and busy offices.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in various ways:
- When in noisy settings, conversations are hard to make out.
- Distraction and reduced engagement in social interactions.
- Increased mental fatigue due to heightened concentration needed for listening.
Hearing loss examinations
It can be particularly hard to identify these kinds of challenges when traditional hearing diagnostics seem to reveal normal hearing. However, researchers are looking at innovative tests to diagnose early stages of hearing loss:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device monitors the electrical EEG signals transmitted by your ears to your brain. If these signals fluctuate in a particular way while you’re in a crowded or noisy setting, that could be a strong indication of some problems with your hearing.
- The Eye Test: A special set of glasses is utilized in this test. These glasses can monitor the movement and dilation of your pupils. If you’re concentrating a little harder than usual your pupils will behave in a particular way. But it may be a sign that you’re straining to hear if this happens in a loud setting.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, coupled with personal observation, are able to identify hearing issues in their very early stages.
What are the benefits of early detection?
Detecting even slight hearing loss early provides two significant advantages.
- Mental decline associated with untreated hearing loss can be prevented with early detection.
- It reduces aggravation by supplying clarity about the challenges of being in settings like open office plans.
If you’re experiencing trouble following conversations despite “normal” hearing, consider getting a professional assessment.
Total mental function and auditory health will be improved by early detection. Contact us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you may have.