Knowing when you need some medical advice is usually pretty easy. You know you need to go see a doctor right away if you break a bone, for instance. You may need a splint or a cast or supportive device, but the thing is that you’re unlikely to try “toughing it out”. At least, not for very long (especially if you want your bones to repair themselves correctly).
It’s not always that obvious in terms of hearing aids, however. Hearing loss usually progresses very gradually over time. That means it’s not always easy to know when you might need to start using hearing aids or to delay finding treatment you know could be beneficial.
That’s why it’s a good plan to watch out for some specific signposts that you may be losing your ability to communicate. If you notice any, it may be time to consult us about your first set of hearing aids.
Hearing aids and hearing loss
Hearing aids are the main form of treatment for hearing loss. But that doesn’t mean everybody who has hearing loss will instantly need a pair of hearing aids. Hearing aids won’t always be beneficial in cases of minor hearing loss. Consequently, we might want you to wait before beginning to use them. In addition, you might be directed to wear hearing aids only in specific situations.
This means that just because you’re diagnosed with hearing loss doesn’t mean you will necessarily need hearing aids.
But in many situations hearing aids will be the best solution. Because hearing loss can be a sneaky and gradual condition, lots of people don’t receive a diagnosis until there’s been considerable damage. But if you come in for a hearing exam regularly, you may be able to catch your hearing loss early, and, because of this, you may not need hearing aids immediately.
So how will you know if you have hearing loss?
Signs you need a hearing aid
Instant communication problems can be the consequence of hearing loss. But a lot of times you don’t even comprehend that hearing loss is the cause of those communication issues. So, when is it time for a hearing aid?
Look out for these indicators:
- When people talk, you can’t always understand what they said: Many individuals don’t think they have hearing loss or need hearing aids because the total volume they hear seems fine. But the thing about hearing loss is that specific frequencies of sound often go before others. Because of this, things like vowel sounds in the higher pitches can sound distorted. This could cause you to have a tough time understanding what people are saying.
- The volume on your devices is getting really loud: If you’re always turning up the volume on your television or radio or smartphone, it might be the result of hearing loss. If you find people around you complaining about the high volume of your devices, this is particularly relevant.
- You’re unable to understand people on the phone: Even the best phone speakers tend to flatten a voice. That can make it hard to understand, especially if you have hearing loss. It can be very difficult to hear voices as an outcome of the loss of these frequencies.
- When you’re in very loud settings, you have a difficult time following conversations: When people ask, “What are the signs of hearing loss?”, this one almost always comes up. One of the surest indications of hearing loss is that you have trouble following conversations in loud settings, like bars or restaurants. That’s because your brain has trouble filling in the missing information that you lose when you have hearing impairment. Lots of conversations get muddled as a result.
So how should you deal with it?
Clearly, you know exactly what you have to do when you break a bone! But what about when you notice these signs that you might need a hearing aid? What degree of hearing loss calls for hearing aids? Well, that’s difficult to answer, but when you start experiencing these signs, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with us. We will be able to let you know how serious your hearing loss is.
A hearing test will also help you get the optimal hearing aids for your needs if you do indeed need hearing aids. This means you’ll be able to get back to spending quality time with your friends and loved ones, you’ll understand your grandkids when they give you a call, your co-workers at your morning meeting, and your friends at the pub.
Call us to schedule your hearing exam, we can help you understand if you’re suffering from hearing loss.