Signs You're About To Lose Your Hearing
Do you ever find yourself asking people to repeat themselves? Do you have trouble hearing in noisy environments? If so, you might be among the millions of Americans who are on the verge of hearing loss. In fact, nearly one-third of adults aged 65 and over have some degree of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a gradual process, and it can often go undetected for years. That's why you need to be aware of the signs that your hearing is starting to decline.
You Have Difficulty Hearing in Noisy Environments
Difficulty hearing in noisy environments is among the most common signs of hearing loss. As your hearing begins to decline, you lose your ability to filter out background noise. This issue can make it challenging to follow conversations or hear important announcements at work or school. In addition, you may find yourself turning up the volume on your TV more often than you used to.
If you suspect a hearing problem in noisy backgrounds, you might want to invest in a pair of hearing aids. These devices can help filter out background noise and improve your hearing ability in all settings.
You Don't Hear People When They Talk Directly to You
If you can't hear when people talk directly to you, you might have a serious hearing problem. As your hearing begins to decline, you lose the ability to pick up on subtle sound cues like pitch and tone. It can be difficult to understand what someone is saying when they're talking to you face-to-face.
You also start to miss out on vital pieces of conversation, so you keep asking people to repeat themselves. You will find yourself frequently saying "what" or "huh?" during conversations.
If you have to ask people to repeat themselves often, try sitting closer to them. If your hearing doesn't improve at all, invest in a hearing aid that can help improve your ability to hear speech. This device will help you catch all the important details from conversations you have with people near you.
You Don't Always Hear High-pitched Sounds
Another sign of hearing loss is difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds. As your hearing declines, you start to lose your ability to pick up on higher frequency sounds. This could mean that you have damaged sensory cells in your inner ear that help detect these high-pitched sounds. You'll notice that you can no longer hear birds chirping or leaves rustling in the wind.
Unfortunately, high pitched hearing loss is often permanent. But there are hearing aids that can help you amplify high-frequency sounds. They can make it easier for you to detect high-pitched sounds and enjoy your favorite activities again. An ENT specialist can help you determine what kind of hearing aid is the best fit for you.