It goes without saying that we are all unique in our own, humanistic way. That sentiment doubles for our general well-being. Some of us may be at the healthiest we have ever been as we age, while others will see their immune system deteriorate. In some cases, an individual may even begin to experience early symptoms of their overall health waning.
Hearing loss is more prevalent than one may originally believe. Although it is commonly associated with those who are older, the early signs of hearing loss can be universal. If you are feeling or experiencing any of these indicators, you may be on course for actual hearing loss. Make sure you contact a hearing clinic before the situation worsens.
Watch out for these eight early signs of hearing loss and impairment.
Sign #1: You hear too much noise.
In social settings, a bit of background noise is to be expected. Eating in a restaurant or working out at a gym will always feature some sort of audible sound in each, respective setting. However, depending on the magnitude of the noise, you may begin to feel that it has become an impediment.
If you find that you are unable to follow a normal conversation because of the noise present, this may be an early sign of hearing loss. The enunciation of some letters may be hard to hear, more so than others. This leads to you hearing the noise of the environment in a higher tone, than the actual speech itself.
Sign #2: You watch the lips to follow a conversation.
Usually, conversation on a face to face basis occurs when individuals are looking at one another. Eye contact is made, and our eyes move sporadically to other areas in our general eyesight. However, if you feel as if you are zoning in on a person’s lips while they are speaking, you may be experiencing an early onset of hearing loss.
Focusing on someone’s lips, in an effort to hear what they are saying, takes you out of the conversation as a whole. By placing so much emphasis on what is coming out of an individual’s mouth, you inadvertently forget what you are doing. This may be the direct result of hearing loss at an early stage.
Sign #3: You repeat “what?” a lot.
Although this is universally regarded as something everyone does, it may be more prevalent in others. It all comes down to whether or not someone is experiencing the early stages of hearing loss. If, for example, a person is constantly responding to conversation by saying “what?” or some other variation, this can be an early sign of hearing loss.
By consistently asking others to repeat themselves, especially in low-noise settings, a loss of hearing is likely manifesting. However, it should be taken with some caution. You are likely to be experiencing other early symptoms in totality, alongside this one.
Sign #4: You think the audio is always too loud.
If you have ever caught yourself telling someone to turn down the TV audio, hearing loss may be a factor. Even if the audio from the respective system is at a minimal, it may have a glaring effect on your ear drums. This is a prime indicator that your actual hearing levels are decisively lower than a normal threshold.
Sign #5: You get exhausted from listening to others.
After a social event or gathering has been completed, you may feel as if you are more tired than usual. Using all of your energy, in an effort to listen to others, may be a direct consequence of the early stages of hearing loss. Your brain has been driven to work in a higher capacity to allow you to hear simple speech. This leads to an overwhelming sense of exhaustion as a result.
Sign #6: You are unable to understand others.
This sign of hearing loss differs slightly from consistently saying “what?” in response to others. If you find that you outright cannot understand speech, the early stages of hearing loss may be occurring. Misinterpreting or miscommunicating with others is a sign that you have to get your hearing checked immediately.
Sign #7: You inadvertently ignore others.
Young children trying their hardest to get your attention may also be an early symptom of hearing loss. You may find yourself becoming perplexed at individuals vying for your attention. This isn’t done on purpose; you most likely could not hear them in the first place. If this is the case, the onset of hearing loss may be apparent.
Sign #8: Only one of your ears work.
When you only have one ear working at normal capacity, hearing loss may be a factor. Or, in some cases, the ability to hear in one ear drastically decreases, in comparison to its counterpart. This is a direct consequence of the early stages of hearing loss, and needs to be checked out immediately.
Hearing loss can come in a myriad of ways, but the early signs are more blatant than others. If you find yourself becoming agitated to even the lowest audio levels around you, speak to a health care provider. The faster you act on it, the quicker you can receive proper treatment!