How Hearing Loss Sneaks Up on You

Living with hearing loss is lifelong. But going through hearing loss can be subtle, and it can be something you don’t even realize is affecting you until you cannot hear as well as you used to. And that can be a scary thing for a lot of people.

However, if you know the ways in which hearing loss sneaks up on you, preventing against it becomes a lot more manageable. You know what to look out for, and what to ask other people when it comes to your hearing comprehension. So, with all that in mind, here’s what you need to know.

Hearing Loss Doesn’t Happen Overnight

For most people, hearing loss happens gradually over time. It’s not a sudden switch, and you don’t wake up suddenly not being able to hear anything. Hearing loss takes time, as you may only have a very slight loss when you first experience it. If you repeatedly expose your hearing to loud noises without any protection, you may then notice a milder to severe case developing over a period of months or years.

Of course, some hearing loss cases are sudden. Contracting a virus or experiencing some kind of head trauma are the two most common causes of this. But these situations make up a small minority. For most people it’ll take around five to 10 years before hearing loss becomes more obvious in their life. It might be slight at first – you have to sometimes turn the volume up – and then it becomes more and more challenging to work around.

Loved Ones May Notice Before You

Even if you don’t notice your hearing loss straight away, a loved one may notice the way your hearing behavior has changed. These are the people who spend time with you on a daily basis and are more likely to notice if something is off, or if you’re finding things challenging.

If you suspect that your hearing has differed in some way over the past few weeks or months, it’s best to ask someone close to you. Seek their opinion if you’re worried; they’ll be able to help you come to a decision over whether or not to book a hearing consultation.

The Symptoms to Look Out for

Being aware of how hearing loss works is the best way to take action when you need to. You may be asking people to speak up, repeat themselves and you may even avoid talking to others more and more.

These habits can also sneak up on you, and it can be hard to identify the pattern even if you’re aware of hearing loss issues. As such, it’s best to know the common symptoms that people with new hearing loss experience ahead of time. Here are three of the most likely to keep in mind:

Asking People to Repeat Themselves

If you’re regularly asking people to repeat themselves, it could be a sign your hearing has changed. Think about what you experience when you’re in conversation. If you’re able to follow along but can’t quite understand what’s being said, you could be living with a mild level of hearing loss.

Turning Up the Volume on the TV

If neighbors are banging on the wall or a family member regularly asks you to turn the TV down, it could also be a sign your hearing is different than what it was. It can also be risky for your hearing to listen to music or your favorite show at a high-volume level, which may then impact your hearing even further.

Difficulty Taking Part in Normal Conversation

As we mentioned earlier, if you’ve recently found conversations difficult to follow along or comprehend, you could be living with hearing loss. Some people are fine when someone talks at a normal volume to them, but whispering may be an issue – this is a common symptom.

How Big Thicket Hearing Aids & Audiology can help

Hearing loss often sneaks up on people, and as experienced audiologists, we’ve seen it happen many times before. But it’s also not something you should be concerned about. Hearing loss is something you can live very happily with, especially with the help of hearing aids.

If you need to book a hearing test appointment, or you want to ask more about hearing loss and how it can affect you, give us a call today at (409) 751-2590. We’ll be happy to talk over your worries or to simply book a consultation for you to see us.