Hearing loss can be brought on by many things and is usually extremely aggravating. Even though hearing loss is usually caused by age or an injury, in some circumstances, hearing loss may be an indication of a more severe underlying medical issue.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should watch for
Hearing loss will frequently throw up a variety of red flags meaning it’s time for a hearing exam. Pay attention if any of these red flags show up.
Having difficulty hearing phone calls
You may be having a difficult time hearing phone calls even with the volume setting. If you are continually turning the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you should make an appointment as soon as possible for a hearing exam.
Difficulty following conversations
At times, we get lost when we’re having conversations even when our hearing is healthy, but if it occurs frequently, especially when more than two people are talking, it’s probably an indication of hearing loss.
People around you are complaining about the rising volume of your TV
Following along with television shows, particularly when there’s music and dialog, can be challenging. It’s important to understand that turning the tv up louder doesn’t always make the sound clearer. But it’s time to get your hearing assessed if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you constantly need the volume on a very high setting.
Trouble hearing in noisy environments
It usually means you’re struggling to differentiate speech from background noise if hearing in a public place has become a challenge. This is one of the most common complaints of people who are going through hearing loss.
You keep asking people what they said
If somebody is mumbling a few feet from you and you’re unable to hear them, that doesn’t necessarily 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
Misunderstanding what people are saying can be embarrassing and is often a sign of high frequency hearing loss. This type of hearing loss makes it difficult to distinguish speech.
If you are experiencing 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 continue to have difficulty hearing.
