By Rachel King, AuD CCC-A

Hearing loss comes on gradually, most of the time. This makes it difficult to discern whether you have hearing loss. Here are some signs or symptoms to look out for! 

Background Noise. One of the first places most patients notice difficulty hearing is when trying to carry on a conversation with other noise going on. Do you find yourself struggling to carry on a conversation when the TV or dishwasher are on? How about when there are other conversations going on at the same time such as at a party or a restaurant? 

Asking for repetition. Another common symptom is finding that you have to ask others to repeat themselves often. Maybe you find that people mumble, or at least sound like they are mumbling. You have a difficult time discerning what is being said. This could be a sign of hearing loss. 

TInnitus. Not everyone who has hearing loss has tinnitus, and not everyone who has tinnitus has hearing loss. However, if you are experiencing ringing, buzzing, clicking, or other noises in your ears, it’s a good idea to get your hearing checked as most commonly tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss. 

Getting Startled. Do you find yourself being startled more often when someone comes into a room and taps you on the shoulder or starts speaking? Hearing loss can make it more difficult to hear when a person is coming up behind you or entering a room. Sometimes this happens when we are focused on something. But, if you find it happening frequently, you may want to get your hearing checked. 

Not Hearing Certain Sounds. Do people tell you your watch is beeping and you don’t hear it? What about being able to hear the microwave from another room? Can you still hear the turn signal clicking in the car? These are common sounds that people with hearing loss stop hearing. Tune in and see if you are missing sounds in your environment. Maybe you can hear them, but they aren’t as loud as you would expect. Good idea to get a hearing check! 

Why is it so important to get your hearing checked? Hearing loss, most of the time, is progressive. Like many other conditions, catching it early and treating it early on brings about the best results. The longer the brain goes without stimulation from the ears, the less it is able to process sound even when it is loud enough. Catching hearing loss early and treating it early helps to preserve the brain’s ability to understand and process sounds. In addition, living with hearing loss is difficult. Audiologists are trained to help you find ways to cope with and live with hearing loss beyond just wearing hearing aids. Hearing is our connection to our world. We depend on hearing for environmental awareness as well as communication. Communication is how we connect with the people we love and those we work with. 

We are ready to help you! If you are noticing any of the symptoms discussed in this article, give us a call and make an appointment! It’s for your health and wellbeing!