Knowing when you need some medical advice is normally fairly easy. You know you need to go to the doctor immediately if you break your leg, for example. With scenarios like this, simply “toughing it out” isn’t an option. At least, not for that long (particularly if you want your bones to repair themselves properly).
But in terms of hearing aids, it’s not always so easy to recognize when it’s time to get some assistance. Hearing loss usually progresses very gradually over time. This means recognizing when to get treatment for hearing loss can be difficult.
That’s why it’s a good idea to watch out for some distinct indicators that you might be losing your ability to communicate. It’s probably time to call us for a consultation if you do notice any.
Hearing aids and hearing loss
Hearing loss is primarily managed with hearing aids. But everybody who has some level of hearing loss won’t necessarily need hearing aids. In situations where patients have very mild hearing loss, hearing aids won’t always be practical. We might want you to hold off on using hearing aids as a result. It’s also possible that we could direct you to only use your hearing aids when you’re in certain situations.
This means that just because you are diagnosed with hearing loss doesn’t mean you will necessarily need hearing aids.
However, hearing aids will be the ideal answer in many circumstances. Because hearing loss can be a sneaky and gradual condition, lots of people don’t receive a diagnosis until there’s been substantial damage. Getting your hearing tested regularly is the key to catching hearing loss early and possibly mitigating the need for hearing aids.
And if that’s the situation, you’re most likely thinking: how can I tell if I need hearing aids?
You need hearing aids if you recognize these indicators
Immediate communication issues can be the result of hearing loss. The interesting thing, though, is that you don’t always comprehend that those communication challenges are due to hearing loss. So, when is it time for a hearing aid?
Watch out for these indicators:
- You have a tough time hearing conversations in noisy places: When people ask, “What are the signs of hearing loss?”, this one almost always comes up. If you have trouble hearing conversations in noisy places, that’s usually a sure sign that you have hearing loss. This occurs because your ears aren’t receiving as much information as they used to, and your brain isn’t really capable of filling in the gaps very easily. Because of this, there’s a lot of muffled conversations.
- You have trouble making out what people are saying: Many individuals don’t think they have hearing loss or need hearing aids because the total volume they hear seems fine. But hearing loss is funny, it tends to impact certain frequencies before others. Because of this, things like vowel sounds in the higher register can sound distorted. Consequently, you may have a difficult time understanding what people are saying to you.
- Phone conversations sound muddled: Voices typically sound a little flat on even high-quality phone speakers. If you have hearing loss, this can make it even harder to understand conversations. Again, particular frequencies are missing and the result is that it’s very hard to understand those voices.
- The volume on your devices is becoming really loud: If you’re constantly turning up the volume on your television or radio or smartphone, it may be because of hearing loss. If you find individuals around you complaining about the loud volume of your devices, this is particularly relevant.
So how should you deal with it?
When you break a bone, it’s clear cut what to do: you go to the doctor! But what about when you experience these indications that you might need a hearing aid? What degree of hearing loss calls for hearing aids? That isn’t a very easy answer but you should schedule an appointment with us for a hearing assessment if you begin to notice any hearing loss symptoms. We will be able to inform you about how serious your hearing loss is.
And if you do wind up needing hearing aids, a hearing exam will help identify the best device for your hearing needs. This means you’ll be able to get back to spending quality time with your friends and family, you’ll hear your grandkids when they call you on the phone, your co-workers at your morning meeting, and your friends at happy hour.
Contact us to schedule your hearing test, we can help you recognize if you’re suffering from hearing loss.
