Hearing loss can be a consequence of many things and is usually very frustrating. Although hearing loss is often caused by age or an injury, in some circumstances, hearing loss might be a symptom of a more severe root medical issue.
Watch 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 some of those red flags that should make you pay attention.
Having trouble hearing phone calls
You may be having a difficult time hearing phone calls even with the volume setting. If you are constantly turning the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you should schedule an appointment as soon as you can for a hearing evaluation.
Difficulty following conversations
Even though getting lost during a conversation isn’t always an indication of hearing loss, it might be a sign of hearing loss if you regularly have a hard time processing the conversation when two or more individuals are talking at the same time.
People around you are complaining about the rising volume of your TV
Following along with tv shows, particularly when there’s music and dialog, can be a challenge. We need to recognize that the sound doesn’t automatically get clearer when you crank the volume up. But it’s time to get your hearing checked if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you continuously need the volume on a really loud setting.
Trouble hearing in noisy environments
If you are in a public place and the background noise makes it hard to hear the others with you, it generally means you struggle to filter out background noise and tune into speech. This is one of the most prevalent complaints of people who are experiencing hearing loss.
You say “what” frequently
Simply because you aren’t able to hear somebody mumbling several feet from you doesn’t mean you have hearing loss. Still, it may be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech properly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Failing to understand what people are saying
It can be an indication of high frequency hearing loss, often an embarrassing one, if you regularly misunderstand what people are saying. This type of hearing loss makes it difficult to distinguish speech.
If you are dealing with any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing exam as soon as possible. The good news is, hearing testing is easy and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to keep having trouble hearing.