4 Things You Need to Know When Hearing Loss Sneaks Up on You
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When did you last hear the sounds of life’s simple pleasures, like birds chirping, night-time crickets, or the soft sound of ocean waves. Have the sounds of nature, and many sounds you may be missing out on, faded as subtle hearing loss invaded?
Is it overwhelming to be at social events because it’s hard to hear and focus during conversation? Do you find yourself retreating because socializing feels chaotic and overwhelming? Or maybe you’re like my friend who is extremely social and compensated for her hearing loss in ways she didn’t even realize.
The year was 2020 and it was time to mask up during the COVID-19 pandemic. A friend of mine quickly learned she couldn’t understand what people were saying when their mouths were covered while talking. Unbeknownst to her, she heavily relied on lip reading while listening to others speak.
While wearing masks, she struggled to hear not only because voices were muffled by the mask but because for years her hearing was declining and she compensated by lip reading. Until then, she had no idea she was struggling to hear. She promptly had her hearing checked and excitedly got hearing aids.
She’s thrilled with the improvement in her quality of hearing, not to mention that she’s maintained a high quality of life and avoided cognitive decline and increased safety risks!
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It’s time to improve your quality of life and stop missing out on life’s simple pleasures. Set aside any fears of the unknown and begin your journey by learning about hearing loss and understanding what may happen if it goes unaddressed. Learn the signs, symptoms, and when to get tested.
Taking action to address it quickly can pay off and here are three reasons why….
3 Reasons to Think Twice Before Ignoring the Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline. Cognitive function can decline over time due to a lack of brain stimulation in the areas involved with processing sound. Because these areas are not fully utilized, the brain may shift from the auditory regions and focus on other areas of the brain. This can weaken the connections with the auditory region.
Social isolation and mental health issues can occur as individuals become overwhelmed by the difficulty of communicating which can be exhausting. According to the American Academy for Audiology, “This increased effort and exhaustion can result in withdrawal from social activities with friends, family events, religious services, and other activities.”(1). Mental health issues can arise as a result of social isolation. Isolation shows itself as avoiding simple duties, opting out of social events, and feeling alone while socializing with family and friends.(1) A progression of avoiding things that were stimulating and rewarding poses an increased risk of depression and anxiety.
Hearing loss can contribute to increased safety risks such as falling. Johns Hopkins Medicine wrote: “As you walk, your ears pick up subtle cues that help with balance. Hearing loss mutes these important signals…. It also makes your brain work harder just to process sound. This subconscious multitasking may interfere with some of the mental processing needed to walk safely.” (2) Consider the importance of processing sounds like cars approaching or warning alarms while driving. There are increased risks if someone cannot react using the sounds in their environment.
Get ahead of declining cognitive function, overwhelming social situations, mental health concerns, and safety risks by knowing the signs and causes of hearing loss.
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7 Signs of Hearing Loss
Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments or over the phone.
Asking people to repeat themselves.
Listening to TV or radio at high volume.
Ringing in the ear, known as tinnitus.
Avoiding social situations because it’s hard to follow conversations or is overwhelming.
Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds like children’s voices or alarms.
Hearing is muffled and sounds seem less clear.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
There are a variety of reasons why hearing can decline.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hearing loss is caused by the degradation or damage to the nerve cells in the cochlea. Our nerve cells send electrical signals to the brain and if they are worn down, they don’t communicate with the brain well, causing hearing loss.
Hearing can decline naturally as we age. This is known as Presbycusis. Over time, exposure to loud noises like machinery, concerts, or headphones at high volumes can wear down our nerve cells.
Growths inside the ear, tumors, or ear infections that affect our outer or middle ear can cause hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss can result from tympanic membrane perforation, also known as a ruptured eardrum. An eardrum can burst from sudden “blasts” of noises and pressure changes, ear infections, or poking an eardrum with an object. Learn more about sudden hearing loss by clicking here.
Temporary hearing loss can be caused by the buildup of earwax over time. Instead of damage to the nerve endings in the ear, the earwax blocks sound waves from passing through to the cochlea and communicating with our brain.
Other reasons include, chronic ear infections, hereditary conditions, ototoxic medications (that affect hearing and balance), and diseases like meningitis.
When is it Time to Get Tested for Hearing Loss?
Get your hearing tested when –
You experience any of the signs noted above.
You work in noisy environments with exposure to loud sounds.
You have an ear infection or injury.
Your friends or family members point out that you seem to be having difficulty hearing.
You visit your doctor and begin regular screenings, especially as you continue to age over 60 or you have a family history of hearing loss.
After learning the signs and causes of hearing loss, do any of these sound familiar? Are you ready to turn down the TV, hear the sounds of children laughing, and the enjoyable sounds of the world around you? Be sure to get ahead of the unfortunate consequences of hearing loss, take control, and schedule your testing today!
If you are experiencing hearing loss, make an appointment with me by calling 817-261-3000.
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