It’s commonly said that hearing loss is a gradual process. It can be quite subtle for this very reason. Your hearing doesn’t deteriorate in giant leaps but rather in tiny steps. And that can make the progressive decline in your ears challenging to keep track of, especially if you aren’t looking for it. That’s why knowing the first signs of age-related hearing loss can be a big boost for your ear-defense.
A whole assortment of related problems, like anxiety, depression, and even dementia, can result from neglected hearing loss, so even though it’s difficult to detect, it’s crucial to get hearing loss treated as early as you can. Timely treatment can also help you maintain your current hearing levels. Detecting the early warning signs is the best way to guarantee treatment.
Early signs of hearing loss can be difficult to spot
Early hearing loss has elusive symptoms. You don’t, all of a sudden, lose a major portion of your hearing. Instead, the initial signs of hearing loss hide themselves in your everyday activities.
You see, the human body and brain, are incredibly adaptable. When your hearing begins to fade, your brain can begin to compensate, helping you follow conversations or determine who said what. Similarly, if your left ear starts to fade, maybe your right ear starts to compensate and you unconsciously start tilting your head just a bit.
But your ears and brain can only compensate so much.
First indications of age-related hearing loss
There are some common signs to watch for if you think that you or a loved one might be experiencing the onset of age related hearing loss:
- Boosted volume on the TV, radio, or cell phone: This is probably the single most recognized sign of hearing loss. It’s classically known and mentioned. But it’s also easy to notice and easy to track (and easy to relate to). If you’re continuously turning up the volume, that’s a sign that you aren’t hearing as well as you used to.
- You’re asking people to repeat what they said frequently: This one shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. But, typically, you won’t recognize you’re doing it. When you have a challenging time hearing something, you might request some repetition. When this starts happening more often, it should raise some red flags around your ears.
- You can’t differentiate between “s” and “th” sounds anymore: There’s something about the frequency that these sounds vibrate on that can make them particularly difficult to hear when your ears aren’t at their optimum level. You should pay particular attention to the “s” and “th” sounds, but other consonant sounds can also become confused.
- Struggling to hear in loud environments: Picking individual voices in a crowd is one of the things that the brain is extremely good at. But your brain has progressively less information to work with as your hearing worsens. Hearing in a busy space can quickly become a chore. If following these conversations is harder than it used to be (or you find yourself opting out of more conversations than you used to), it’s worth getting your ears assessed.
Keep your eye out for these subtle signs of hearing loss, as well
Some subtle signs of hearing loss seem like they have no connection to your hearing. These are subtle signs, no doubt, but they can be a leading indicator that your ears are struggling.
- Trouble concentrating: It could be difficult to obtain necessary levels of concentration to accomplish your day-to-day activities if your brain has to devote more energy to hearing. You might find yourself with concentration problems as a consequence.
- Frequent headaches: When your hearing starts to decline, your ears are still straining to hear sounds. They’re working hard. And that extended strain also strains your brain and can lead to chronic headaches.
- Restless nights: Ironically, another indication of hearing loss is insomnia. It seems as if it would be easier to sleep when it’s quiet, but you go into a chronic state of restless alertness when you’re constantly straining to hear.
When you notice any of these signs of age-related hearing loss, it’s worth scheduling an appointment with us to figure out whether or not you’re experiencing the early stages of hearing decline. Then we can help you safeguard your hearing with the right treatment plan.
Hearing loss is a slow-moving process. With the right knowledge, you can stay ahead of it.
References
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/46306-Hearing-loss-auditory-deprivation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20373072