Hearing loss is generally an aggravating condition that can be the result of various things. Even though hearing loss is usually caused by age or an injury, in some situations, hearing loss might be an indication of a more severe root medical condition.
Watch out for these hearing loss red flags
Hearing loss will frequently throw up a variety of red flags meaning it’s time for a hearing exam. Here are a few of those red flags that should make you pay attention.
Trouble hearing on the telephone
Even with a volume control setting, you might find it difficult to hear the person you are talking to on the telephone. If you are constantly cranking the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you need to make an appointment as soon as you can for a hearing assessment.
Difficulty making out conversations
Even though getting lost during a conversation isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, it might be a sign of hearing loss if you frequently have trouble processing the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time.
People around you are complaining about the rising volume of your TV
It can be challenging to follow television programs, especially if music is combined with dialog. We need to recognize that the sound doesn’t necessarily get clearer when you crank up the volume. But it’s time to have your hearing examined if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you continuously need the volume on a very loud setting.
Difficulty hearing in loud settings
If you are in a public location and the background sound makes it hard to hear the others with you, it generally means you struggle to mask background noise and tune into speech. This is one of the most common complaints of individuals who are experiencing hearing loss.
You keep asking people what they said
If somebody is mumbling a few feet from you and you can’t hear them, that doesn’t always indicate you have hearing loss. Still, it may be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech correctly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Failing to understand what people say
Misunderstanding what people say can be embarrassing and is frequently an indication of high frequency hearing loss. This means you are not capable of discerning the sounds of speech.
If you are noticing any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing assessment as soon as possible. Here’s the good news, hearing testing is simple and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to continue to have difficulty hearing.