10 Signs It Is Time For A Hearing Test
Chances are that if you’re reading this blog, you may be wondering if you are experiencing hearing loss. In the United States, approximately 15% of adults over the age of 18 say that they have some level of hearing loss. While hearing loss is more common than people think, it is not something that is always apparent right away.
Resonance Audiology has helped many patients throughout Lancaster, PA region who are experiencing hearing loss. But, how do you know if what are you experiencing is hearing loss?
We have compiled a list of the top 10 signs that you may need to see an ear doctor. Seeking the help of an audiologist is the first thing you should do if you notice some of these signs.
- You Find Yourself Asking People To Repeat Themselves More Often Than Usual.
You may have found that during a conversation, you are not always able to understand what people are saying to you. Speech may seem unclear or muffled. Have you found that you are asking people to speak louder or to repeat themselves? This may be one of the most common signs of hearing loss that people simply ignore because they only view it as a minor inconvenience.
- You Feel Exhausted After Having Conversations With People.
You may not realize it at first, but straining to hear what people are saying can also affect you in other ways. The constant struggle of trying to keep up with what people are saying, focusing on trying to understand words that are muffled, and attempting to read lips can leave you feeling drained and fatigued. The feeling of being tired is not uncommon amongst those who are experiencing hearing loss.
- You Have Difficulty Hearing In Loud Places.
You may find that you hear just fine in normal environments. Perhaps at home or work, you do not struggle to hear, but in a loud environment, you do. While most people may find it difficult to hear in a loud environment, those who are experiencing hearing loss may find it to be more difficult than usual. When you are at a busy party or a place like an airport, are you able to hear individual sounds easily? Perhaps you were unable to hear someone calling your name or missed an announcement about your flight. If this has happened to you, it might be time for a hearing test.
- You Always Have The Volume On Your TV Or Radio At A High Level.
When many of us are watching TV or listening to music, we may grow accustomed to a certain volume that we can easily hear. Perhaps you have found that you are turning the volume up louder than you normally would, or someone has told you that they think the volume is much louder than they think it should be. This may happen as a gradual progression over time. If you are experiencing this, you may want to speak to an ear doctor to have your hearing evaluated.
- You Find That You Need To Reposition Yourself To Hear Things.
If you realize that you are twisting your head, your neck, or your entire body to be able to hear something, this could be a sign that you are experiencing hearing loss in one ear. Oftentimes, people do not even notice that they are shifting the way they are sitting or moving to face a different direction just to hear something more clearly. While this may help in the beginning, it could mean that you should seek out an audiologist to help properly diagnose you.
- If Hearing Loss Is Something That Runs In Your Family
There is a long list of medical conditions that can be passed down through generations of family members. Certain illnesses and ailments are hereditary, and if you have a large number of people in your family that have hearing loss, you may have an increased risk of also experiencing hearing loss.
- You Have Certain Health Conditions That Can Lead To Hearing Loss
While it is not always the case, certain circulatory or thyroid conditions can lead to hearing loss. Even something as common as Diabetes has been shown to have connections to hearing loss. In many of these cases, blood flow is restricted or does not function the same as it normally does, and this can affect your hearing.
- You Take Certain Medications That Lead To Hearing Loss
There are some medications that can be considered “ototoxic”, which means they can affect your ear. Ototoxic drugs are can be prescribed, or over the counter as well. They are used to treat a variety of conditions like infections or can also be prescribed for things like heart problems or cancer. They may have some side effects that can lead up to or include hearing loss. Click here to read our blog where we go more in-depth about this topic.
- You Find That You Are Avoiding Being Social
If you realize that you are not engaging in social situations as much as you used to, it could be because you are trying to avoid an encounter where you may struggle to hear someone or something. Some find that the thought of struggling to hear is not something they want to put themselves through, so they would rather not be put in that position. Many who are experiencing hearing loss will become easily frustrated if they are not able to communicate and be as involved in social gatherings and other activities.
- You Notice A Constant Ringing In Your Ear
If you realize that you have a constant ringing, buzzing, or screeching in your ear, this could be an indicator of hearing loss. Many people experience these symptoms after having been exposed to loud noises. If the ringing, buzzing, or screeching persists and does not stop for prolonged periods of time, this could be a sign of tinnitus. If you find that you are continuously bombarded by persistent ringing in your ear, you should seek the aid of an audiologist sooner rather than later.
You may have found that you are experiencing several of the things on this list and have a concern about your hearing. If so, you may want to take our 5-minute hearing test that may help you determine if you are experiencing hearing loss.
If you live in the Lancaster PA area and need to see an ear doctor, please consider coming to see the team at Resonance Audiology. We work to diagnose and treat our patients on an individual basis and have access to the latest technology that will assist them to live the lives they want to.
Contact us today if you are experiencing hearing loss.