10 Ways to Know You Need Hearing Aids
By Space Coast Daily // August 1, 2023
Losing your hearing is never an easy thing to face. It can fill your head with all sorts of worrying thoughts, but the truth is, you have no way of knowing what’s going on with your ears until you have consulted a specialist.
If you are experiencing any number of the following ten symptoms, there is a strong possibility that your ears are telling you that they need help. Hearing aids are the perfect solution, and specifically designed for this purpose.
Phone Calls Have Gotten More Difficult
Do you find yourself saying ‘could you repeat that?’ while on a call lately? Or, maybe every time you pick up the phone to someone you are struggling to hear words clearly. This is typically one of the first signs that people flag which showed them that not all was well with their hearing. So if you are cranking up the volume or not following conversations anymore, that is a big red flag.
Multiple Voices Throw You Off
When a group of friends gather together, it is so common for everyone to talk over another. If the noise is becoming an issue for you, and it means you can’t quite hear what any single individual is trying to say, then your ears could be the reason why. There could be something else going on cognitively, but more often than not it can all be brought back to the ears.
Someone Has Told You To Turn Down Your TV
One of the most classic signs of hearing loss, and therefore a great indicator that you need hearing aids, is that your TV is just too loud for other people’s ears. If someone comes round to your house to spend time with you to watch a movie or catch up with a sports fixture, and they are taken aback by the high volume you’ve switched the TV to, then your hearing is likely to be worse off than theirs is.
Socializing Is Newly Exhausting
Listening and hearing things takes up energy and mental space. If your hearing is going downhill, and you are getting more and more frustrated when it comes to following conversations or holding a rapport, then flag it. You may just find yourself too tired out at the thought of going out and meeting someone and the conversation you took for granted is now just a daunting prospect with no end in sight.
You Need People to Repeat Themselves More Often
The majority of the time, when this is happening, it is you and not them. This is never more true than when you are doing it with everyone you cross paths with. When you realize that you are saying ‘what’ more often than you are actually answer people’s thoughts and questions, then it is time to make a change and book in an appointment with a hearing specialist.
You Have Particular Problems Hearing Children
Higher pitched frequencies are one of the first things to go when your ears begin to deterioriate. Hearing aids can definitely help with this thanks to their innovative technology. However, this is a big clue that your ears need some help. For anyone who is struggling to understand or register the sound of a child’s voice, take this as a warning sign that you need to engage with.
You Find Yourself Frustrated More Often Than You Are Happy
Happiness and fulfillment from social engagements are two big reasons for going out and seeing people in the first place. So when this is taken away from you, it is only natural to feel as though you are missing out. This will often lead to a general sense of frustration that you can’t quite surmount until you have engaged with helpful tools like hearing aids. Anger is never best left unchecked, and the last thing you need is to begin to withdraw from friendships, relationships, and general socialization just because your ears are not playing ball.
Deciphering Meaning is Too Hard
It is entirely possible that at the point where your ears need hearing aids, you are completely giving up hope about ever understanding another word people say to you ever again. However, there is a way to move forward. It is only in rare cases, such as an onset of complete hearing loss, that aids are not appropriate. For the majority of the time, there is a lot to be gained and it will boost your confidence to re-engage with what is most important.
What Could Be Causing this Hearing Loss?
The reasons behind hearing loss are variable. It could be plain old, straightforward old age that makes it more difficult to hear things. It may also be a post-stroke side effect, or your hearing canal could be being impacted by something like high blood pressure. Whatever the reason may be, you need to find a way to engage with it. There are so many options out there, that you never know until you reach out and get going. The most common causes of hearing loss include:
- Old age
- Tinnitus
- Continued noise exposure
- Cancer
- Migraine
- Hypertension
- Temporary noisy environments
It is important to get to the bottom of the facts so that you can be treated in the best possible way.
What is the Best Way to Proceed?
If you are scoring more than seven out of ten on the above points, it is time to visit a professional hearing aid specialist. It is not an option to just go and buy some at a local store, you must make an appointment and invest the right energy into the process. Hearing aids are specially made nowadays and are extremely subtle, in case you were worried about aesthetic factors. This is the best course of action and will provide the most reliable results.
Hearing aids are needed when hearing normally is no longer an option. Whether it is because of a medical condition or simply old age, billions of people experience hearing loss every year. There is no shame at all in seeking expert treatment paths like hearing aids, and it will definitely increase your quality of life by doing so.