10 Hearing Loss Symptoms You Need to be Aware Of
How do you know if you are suffering from hearing problems? Hearing loss in one ear or two might not be noticeable at first, but if you are experiencing the following hearing loss symptoms, then it’s time to consult a professional audiologist:
10 Hearing Loss Symptoms Associated with Hearing Problems:
- You require constant repetition.
- You have difficulty following conversations, especially if more than two people are talking.
- It sounds like people are mumbling or their speech is muffled when they’re talking. Perhaps you feel frustrated and feel that others aren’t speaking loud enough.
- You have difficulty hearing in noisy environments, such as restaurants, bars, large meetings or shopping centres.
- You especially have trouble hearing women and children, as well as other high-frequency noises such as the ping of a microwave or a car’s ticking turn signal.
- You have your TV or radio on at a high volume, or others have commented that you have your TV or radio on too loud.
- You find that you accidently respond inappropriately to questions.
- You have ringing or hissing in your ears. (This could be a sign of tinnitus.)
- You find that you have to read lips or watch people’s faces more when they’re speaking.
- You’re feeling stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying or you’re starting to withdraw from social situations you once enjoyed because following the conversation is too difficult.
Hearing Problems and Causes: Why are You Experiencing Hearing Loss Symptoms?
You could be experiencing these symptoms of hearing loss for many different reasons. If you think you’re having hearing problems, consider factors and causes such as the following:
- Hearing naturally declines with age. Those aged 65 years of age and over are especially at risk.
- You are more likely to suffer from hearing loss if your family has a history of hearing loss.
- Your hearing loss could be caused by medication that you are taking that can harm the hearing system (for example, ototoxic drugs).
- If you have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems, you are more likely to develop hearing loss.
- If you have been exposed to loud sounds over a long period of time, or a single exposure to an explosive noise, then this could be the cause of your hearing loss. This is especially true of those who work in construction, the music industry or nightlife, as examples.
- An infection or a build-up of ear wax can block ear canals and affect hearing. This can be solved quickly and comfortably through treatments such as microsuction ear wax removal.
Treatment of Hearing Loss: How to Alleviate Hearing Loss Symptoms
Please note that if you have a sudden loss of hearing, particularly if you have sudden hearing loss in one ear, you should seek immediate medical attention.
If the above hearing loss symptoms and hearing problems sound familiar to you, contact us to determine whether your hearing loss is temporary or permanent. Treatments and hearing devices, such as hearing aids, can alleviate some of the hearing loss symptoms mentioned above.
It is important not to put off seeking help for hearing loss until it gets worse. This is because the sooner you book an appointment and get your hearing tested, the easier it will be to rehabilitate hearing and to save the remaining hearing ability that you have.
Contact us to book your hearing appointment.
