With the new year fast approaching, many people are taking up resolutions focused on improving their health. One often missed, but vital aspect of your health is your hearing health. Hearing loss affects nearly two-thirds of adults 70 years of age or older in the United States. By keeping an eye on common signs of hearing loss, you can stay on top of your hearing health and seek early treatment to prevent any adverse effects of hearing loss.
Let’s look at a couple of common signs of hearing loss to watch out for.
1. You Turn the TV or Radio up Higher Than Is Comfortable for Others
When we’re alone, it is easy not to notice when we’ve raised the TV or radio volume to an uncomfortable level, especially when doing so incrementally. Take note of the volume of your media as well as when others find it too loud. Higher volumes may be a sign that you are having trouble hearing sounds at a moderate volume.
2. You Have Trouble Hearing Children
Those with hearing loss often struggle to understand noises at a higher pitch. Because of this, you may notice your hearing loss feels more pronounced when attempting to hear children, birds chirping at Sage Park, alarm clocks and more. Consider which sounds you struggle to hear and take notes for your next audiology appointment.
3. You Get Frustrated in Crowded Places
A common symptom of hearing loss is trouble understanding speech in the presence of a lot of background noise. When you struggle to hear speech in a crowded environment like a busy restaurant or coffee shop, it is easy to become frustrated or want to exclude yourself.
4. You Always Feel People Are Mumbling
Misunderstanding words or phrases or not hearing someone entirely is probably the most obvious sign of hearing loss. If you find that you need to ask people to speak up, rephrase or repeat themselves more often than usual, it may be a sign that you are experiencing progressing hearing loss.
5. You Turn Your Head To Listen Out of Your “Good Side”
Your hearing loss may occur at different levels in each ear. Turning your head when speaking to someone or switching your phone to the other side to hear better may indicate that you have more pronounced hearing loss on one side than the other.
By monitoring these five common signs of hearing loss, you can ensure you stay on top of your hearing health in the new year. To schedule a hearing test with one of our trusted providers, contact Premier Medical Group today.