Hearing loss can be caused by numerous things and is generally very frustrating. Even though hearing loss is commonly due to age or an injury, in some situations, hearing loss might be an indication of a more severe underlying medical issue.
These are some hearing loss red flags you should watch for
There are varieties of red flags that might be an indication of hearing loss and that it’s time to schedule a hearing test appointment. Here are a few of those red flags that should make you take notice.
Difficulties hearing on the phone
Even with a volume control setting, you might find it hard to hear the person you are talking to on the phone. You need to call us for a hearing test if you find yourself constantly cranking up the volume on your phone.
Trouble making out conversations
Although getting lost when you’re having a conversation isn’t always an indication of hearing loss, it might be a sign of hearing loss if you frequently have trouble processing the conversation when two or more individuals are talking at the same time.
Neighbors and family members are complaining about a loud TV
It can be difficult to follow tv shows, particularly if music is combined with dialog. It’s worthwhile to know that cranking the television up louder doesn’t always make the sound clearer. But if you continuously need the tv turned up to a high volume that is unpleasant for others in the room or if your neighbors can hear your television, it is time to get your hearing checked.
Trouble hearing in loud environments
If you are in a public place and the background noise makes it difficult to hear the others with you, it usually means you struggle to mask background noise and focus on speech. People who are experiencing hearing loss most commonly have this complaint.
You say “what” frequently
If someone is mumbling a few feet from you and you can’t hear them, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have hearing loss. Still, if you say the word “what” more than any other word in your vocabulary, it may be a red flag that you aren’t receiving sound signals clearly in order to process speech correctly.
Failing to understand what people are saying
It can be a sign of high frequency hearing loss, often an awkward one, if you regularly misunderstand what people are saying. This type of hearing loss makes it hard to discern speech.
If you are experiencing any of the above red flags, you should schedule a hearing assessment as soon as you can. The good news is, hearing testing is easy and the stigma of hearing loss is a thing of the past so there’s no reason to keep having trouble hearing.