In some cases, it’s easy to identify when you need medical advice. When you break your leg, for instance, you know you should go to the doctor (or the emergency room, depending on the scenario). You may need a splint or a cast or supportive device, but the point is that you’re not likely to try “toughing it out”. If you want your bones to mend correctly, you need to get them treated as soon as you can.
It isn’t always that clear cut with regard to hearing aids, though. Hearing loss typically progresses really slowly over time. That means it isn’t always simple to know when you may need to start wearing hearing aids or to delay finding treatment you know could be beneficial.
So keeping an eye out for signs that your hearing may be going is a good idea. If you observe any, it may be time to talk to us about your first set of hearing aids.
Hearing loss and hearing aids
Hearing loss is primarily managed with hearing aids. But everyone who has some level of hearing loss won’t automatically need hearing aids. In cases where patients have very slight hearing loss, hearing aids won’t always be beneficial. As a result, we may want you to wait before beginning to use them. In addition, you may be instructed to wear hearing aids only in particular situations.
This means that just because you’re diagnosed with hearing loss doesn’t mean you will automatically need hearing aids.
But in many instances hearing aids will be the best answer. Many people won’t get their hearing loss diagnosed until it becomes more serious because hearing loss advances slowly and frequently goes unnoticed for a while. Getting your hearing examined regularly is the key to catching hearing loss early and possibly mitigating the need for hearing aids.
And if that’s the case, you’re probably thinking: how can I tell if I require hearing aids?
You need hearing aids if you detect these signs
Hearing loss is one of those conditions that can produce instant communication problems. But lots of times you don’t even realize that hearing loss is the cause of those communication issues. So, at what point will a hearing aid help?
Look out for these signs:
- When you’re in noisy settings, you have a hard time following conversations: When people ask, “What are the signs of hearing loss?”, this one is almost always mentioned. One of the surest signs of hearing loss is that you have trouble following conversations in noisy places, 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.
- The volume on your devices is getting really loud: If you’re always turning the volume up on your television or radio or smartphone, it might be because of hearing loss. If you find individuals around you complaining about the loud volume of your devices, this is particularly relevant.
- You have difficulty making out what people are saying: Many people don’t think they have hearing loss or need hearing aids because the overall volume they hear seems fine. But the thing about hearing loss is that particular frequencies of sound usually go before others. Because of this, things like vowel sounds in the higher pitches can sound distorted. Consequently, you may have a hard time understanding what people are saying to you.
- Phone conversations sound muddled: Even the highest quality phone speakers have a habit of flattening a voice. That can make it hard to understand, especially if you have hearing loss. Again, certain frequencies are missing and the outcome is that it’s extremely difficult to hear those voices.
So how should you deal with it?
Clearly, you know precisely what you need to do when you break a bone! But what about when you detect these signs that you may need a hearing aid? What degree of hearing loss calls for hearing aids? That’s not a very easy answer but you should make an appointment with us for a hearing assessment if you start to notice any hearing loss symptoms. We’ll be able to evaluate the health of your hearing and determine just how serious your hearing loss may or may not be.
A hearing screening will also help you get the best possible hearing aids for your needs if you do indeed need hearing aids. Then you will be able to get back to taking pleasure in good conversations with your friends and family members and doing the things you love.
Give us a call to schedule your hearing exam, we can help you recognize if you’re suffering from hearing loss.