8 Signs It Is Time To Try Hearing Aids

Nov 22, 2022 10:59:08 AM · 4

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hearing loss is a reduction or absence of sound sensitivity resulting from damage to the inner ear caused by illness, injury, old age, genetics, or other reasons. Hearing loss is categorized into several types depending on the extent and presence of symptoms. Some common forms include sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and conductive hearing loss (CHL).

Approximately 430 million people require rehabilitation for ‘disabling’ hearing loss. This number is expected to nearly double to 700 million by 2050. Most older individuals will experience some hearing impairment during their lifetime. Although they can often adapt to these losses, a lack of awareness can cause serious issues.

Let's look at eight signs alerting you that it might be time to seek hearing aid services.

Signs It Is Time To Try Hearing Aids

You Don’t Like Talking Over the Phone

Having trouble hearing on the phone while attempting to converse with a loved one, friend, or coworker is stressful. In the past, you may have been able to talk with your children or grandchildren without constantly asking them to repeat themselves. However, you might find now that the phone seems too quiet or it's hard to converse without seeing the other person's mouth moving. In this case, hearing aids might help you hear telephone conversations more clearly.

You Have a Perpetual Clicking or Ringing Sound in Your Ears

Tinnitus, a persistent noise only heard by the individual experiencing it, is a common problem. This condition prevents sufferers from getting adequate rest, performing at their jobs, and generally enjoying life. Suicide has even resulted in several cases where victims were subjected to prolonged or severe suffering. Many people who suffer from tinnitus may feel hopeless, yet the reality is quite the opposite. For some, hearing aids have been found to help remedy the problem.

Others Complain That Your TV Is Too Loud

Perhaps it used to be your favorite thing to do to sit back and watch a game or a marathon of your favorite show, but now you find that others around you get irritated by the loud volume on the TV. If others frequently complain that your TV or radio is too loud, it's likely a sign that your hearing is declining, and it would be helpful to use hearing aids.

You Feel Frustrated and Antisocial

It is normal for those who cannot hear clearly to feel isolated. It is difficult to enjoy yourself in a room with others when you can't easily understand what others are saying. It can be natural, as a result, to sink into the background and even stop participating.

Unfortunately, withdrawing from social situations due to hearing loss is possibly the most challenging symptom to recognize that hearing aids are necessary. If a friend or family member tells you that they miss having you around, listen to them. You may not even be aware that you are doing this.

You Rely on Visual Cues

Do you feel lost when you don't have direct human contact? Facial expressions and body language provide context clues and help us make sense of situations even if we can't understand lips. If you rely on these clues, hearing aids may be helpful to you.

You Can’t Tell Where Sounds Are Coming From

Understanding the origin of a sound is essential to making sense of it. The slight difference in when each ear hears a sound is a basis for our ability to locate it. Based on that lag, our brains automatically triangulate and give us a clear picture of the sound's origin. But if one ear isn't picking up the sound, our brain can't place it, and even regular sounds might start to feel alien or unreal. Likewise, one of your ears may be malfunctioning if you can hear sounds but have problems localizing them.

You Ask People to Repeat Themselves

It's not embarrassing to require repeated things, but if you often ask others to repeat themselves or raise their volume, you should check your hearing. Sometimes, even if you have some degree of hearing loss, you'll still be able to understand what people are saying, but their voices will seem muffled or unclear. This can trick you into thinking your hearing is OK, but everyone else is speaking too quietly. If you ask someone to repeat themselves often, it may be time to check your hearing.

Avoiding noisy situations becomes common.

Many enjoyable activities—from eating to seeing a movie—occur against ambient noise. If you miss out on regular discussions because background noise is too loud and people's voices are too soft, it may be time to invest in some hearing aids.

Hearing problems are common, and they affect everyone differently. Over half of the population over 65 years old has some hearing problem, which increases with age. Hearing loss can cause emotional distress and limit social interactions if left untreated. Therefore, it may be time to invest in hearing aids.

Cantissimo Senior Living was recently named one of the Top 100 Senior Care Blogs on the web! Check it out at https://blog.feedspot.com/senior_care_blogs/!