Hearing loss is usually an aggravating condition that can be the result of various things. Even though hearing loss is commonly the result of age or an injury, in some situations, hearing loss might be a symptom of a more severe underlying medical issue.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should look for
Hearing loss will often throw up a variety of red flags indicating it’s time for a hearing assessment. Pay attention if any of these red flags appear.
Trouble hearing on the telephone
Even with a volume control setting, you may find it difficult to hear the person you are talking to on the phone. If you are continually turning the volume up louder and louder on your cell phone or landline, you need to schedule an appointment as soon as possible for a hearing assessment.
Difficulty following conversations
Although getting lost during a conversation isn’t always an indication of hearing loss, it may be a sign of hearing loss if you regularly have a hard time processing the conversation when two or more people are talking simultaneously.
People around you are complaining about the increasing volume of your TV
Following along with television shows, especially when there’s dialog and music, can be a challenge. It’s important to know that cranking the tv up louder doesn’t always clear up the sound. But it’s time to get your hearing examined if your neighbors can hear your TV or if you continuously need the volume on a very high setting.
Trouble hearing in noisy environments
It normally means you’re struggling to differentiate speech from background noise if hearing in a public place has become difficult. Individuals who are experiencing hearing loss most frequently have this complaint.
You say “what” frequently
Simply because you can’t hear someone mumbling several feet away doesn’t mean you have hearing loss. Still, it might be a red flag that you aren’t receiving and processing speech properly if the word “what” is the most used word in your vocabulary.
Failing to understand what people are saying
Misunderstanding what people say can be awkward and is frequently a sign of high frequency hearing loss. This type of hearing loss makes it difficult to discern speech.
If you are noticing any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing assessment as soon as possible. The good news is, hearing testing is easy and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to continue to have difficulty hearing.