Bananas taste much different then they did in the past. There are extremely different varieties of bananas being grown nowadays by banana farmers. Today’s banana can grow successfully in a wide variety of climates, are more robust, and can sprout faster. And they taste very different. So how did this change take place without us noticing? Well, the truth is that it happened slowly, over time. You never noticed the gradual switch.
The same thing can happen with your ears and hearing loss. It’s not like all of a sudden your hearing is totally gone. For the majority of people, hearing loss advances gradually, often so slowly that you don’t really realize what’s taking place.
That’s unfortunate because early intervention can help preserve your hearing. You can take measures to safeguard your hearing if you recognize that it’s at risk. So it’s a good plan to be on the lookout for these seven signs of waning hearing.
You should have your hearing evaluated if you experience any of these 7 signs
Hearing loss isn’t always thoroughly understood as it develops gradually over time. It isn’t as if you’ll be completely incapable of hearing the day after you went to that big rock concert. Repetitive exposure to loud noise over a long period of time gradually results in recognizable hearing loss. The sooner you manage your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. Neglected hearing loss has been connected to a greater risk of problems such as dementia, social solitude, and depression, so it isn’t something you want to mess about with.
You should, uh, watch out for these seven indications that you may be developing hearing loss. A hearing test is the only way to know, but maybe these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re continually turning the volume up
Are you constantly turning up the volume on your devices? Perhaps they’re mixing the audio on your favorite shows differently now, or your favorite artists have begun to mumble. But it’s more likely that you’re compensating for your increasing hearing loss by cranking the volume up on your devices.
If others keep telling you the volume is too loud this is especially likely. They can often notice hearing trouble in you faster than you can.
Sign #2: You didn’t hear your phone ringing (or the doorbell)
It could be a sign that you’re having hearing trouble if you are continuously missing everyday sounds. Some of the most ordinary sounds you might miss include:
- Your doorbell (or someone knocking on the door): You thought your friend just walked into your house but you in fact missed his knocks.
- Timers and alarms: Did you sleep through your alarm clock? Did the dinner get overcooked? It may not be because your cook timer or alarm clock is not loud enough.
- Your phone: Are you missing text messages? You’re more likely to miss text messages than calls since no one makes calls these days.
You’re missing crucial sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your family and friends are becoming afraid to drive with you.
Sign #3: You keep asking people to repeat what they said
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? If you’re regularly needing people to repeat themselves, it’s very, very possible it’s not because of them, it’s because of you (and your hearing). This is especially true if people do repeat what they said and you still don’t hear what they say. Definitely, time to schedule a hearing exam.
Sign #4: It sounds like everybody’s always mumbling
You could also call this sign #3-A, since they go pretty well together. If it sounds like everyone around you is continuously mumbling or saying something under their breath, the reality is… well, they probably aren’t. It’s stressful to always feel like people are mumbling about you, so it might be a comfort to find out they’re actually not. Alternatively, it’s more likely that you’re simply having a difficult time hearing what they’re saying.
If you’re attempting to talk to somebody in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially relevant.
Sign #5: Family members encourage you to take a hearing exam (or invest in hearing aids)
You most likely have a rather close relationship with your friends and family. And some of them probably have healthy hearing. If your family members (especially younger) are telling you that something is wrong with your hearing, it’s a good plan to listen to them (no pun intended).
We understand that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this recommendation away. Perhaps you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But heeding their advice could preserve the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
Ringing in your ears is a condition known as tinnitus. It’s extremely common. When you have hearing loss, your tinnitus can become severe for a couple of reasons:
- Damage can cause both: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be brought on by damage. So you’re more likely to develop tinnitus and hearing loss the more damaged your hearing is.
- Hearing loss can make tinnitus more pronounced: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your day-to-day life. But as those everyday noises recede to the background (due to hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes comparatively louder and substantially more noticeable.
It could be a sign that you’re dealing with problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. And that means (no shock here), yes, you need to come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: You feel tired after social interactions
Perhaps you’ve always been an introvert at heart, and that’s why social situations have grown totally exhausting. Or maybe, and just hear us out here (again with the puns), your hearing isn’t what it used to be.
Your hearing might be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social affair. Your brain is attempting to fill in the holes that you can’t hear. This is fatiguing (no matter how good your brain is), particularly over the long run. So you might experience even more exhaustion when you’re in an especially noisy setting.
The first step is getting in touch with us for an appointment
Honestly, hearing damage is normal to everybody to some degree. Just how much (and how frequently you were using hearing protection) may have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss in the first place.
So if you’ve experienced any of these signs, it’s an indication that the banana is changing. Luckily, you can take matters into your own hands and contact us for an appointment. The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.