Hearing Loss
Do You Have Hearing Loss?
Often, individuals with untreated hearing loss develop coping methods to avoid addressing the issue, such as turning up the volume on their devices or avoiding noisy environments to better hear the people around them. The small sounds they once could hear are no longer noticeable.
Hearing loss can occur gradually over time, and it’s important to act as soon as you notice that your hearing may be changing. Seeing a professional when hearing loss symptoms are minor is critical because it can lead to better adaptation to hearing aids and other devices and it may help prevent or slow the onset of other conditions like depression and cognitive decline. A hearing healthcare professional can present options based on your lifestyle and needs.
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Reasons to Suspect Hearing Loss
- You have a family history of hearing loss
- You have been repeatedly exposed to high noise levels
- You feel like "everybody mumbles" or "people don't speak as clearly as they used to"
- You feel nervous, tension, irritability, or fatigue from the effort it takes to hear
- You find yourself straining to understand conversations and watching people’s faces intently when you are listening
- You frequently misunderstand or need to have things repeated
- You increase the audio volume on devices (television, radio, or phone) to a point that others complain about the loudness
- You have/had diabetes, heart, thyroid, or circulation problems; recurring ear infections; constant or intermittent ringing in the ears; dizziness; or exposure to ototoxic drugs or medications.