Do you ever need help to conversate with your friends and family? You may have experienced difficulty hearing while watching TV or attending a live event, such as a performance at the theater. If any of these situations sound familiar, it is time to consider booking an appointment with a hearing health professional.
Although experiencing changes in your hearing is common for people over 60, many often don’t realize that this issue can also affect others much sooner. In today’s blog post, we will discuss why getting familiar with the signs of hearing loss.
Ear Pain
Ear pain can be an indication of hearing problems, though not always. If the pain radiates inside the ear, it could indicate an infection, irritation or blockage. Those experiencing ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, could also feel a tightness or pressure around their ear structures. If you have any discomfort in or around your ears that persists for more than a few days and you feel it is impacting your hearing ability, then consulting a hearing health professional is your best bet.
Ringing In Your Ears
While some ringing in your ears might not be problematic initially, it’s important to note that this could indicate an underlying hearing health issue. Constant ringing can be a temporary nuisance or worsen over time to become more persistent and troublesome.
It is common for people with hearing loss to have tinnitus, making it essential to get checked out by a hearing health professional if you have frequent ringing in your ears. Sometimes, the sound is barely audible, while at other times, the noise may be loud enough to disrupt day-to-day activities or sleep patterns.
Loss Of Balance
Many people don’t think of hearing as critical to balance, but hearing loss can result in coordination and balance issues. For example, suppose you have noticed yourself needing to be more surefooted on your normal daily routes and experiencing a higher rate of falls. In that case, it could be time to consider whether an underlying cause is the level of your hearing. In addition, impaired hearing can interfere with communication, making it difficult for an individual to assess their environment from verbal cues such as warnings or directions.
Difficulty Understanding Conversations
Have you needed help understanding conversations? Has distinguishing different voices in a group or tracking conversations in crowded places has been challenging? Recent studies have shown that difficulty understanding conversations is one of the first and most common signs of hearing loss.
Particularly when combined with other telltale signs, such as adjusting the volume frequently setting on your television. Most people with age-related hearing loss notice difficulty understanding conversations before any other symptom becomes apparent.
It’s important to be aware of any signs or symptoms that might indicate a hearing problem so you can take steps to address it. For example, if you experience ear pain, ringing in your ears, loss of balance and difficulty understanding conversations, it might be the right time to see a professional. A hearing health professional can diagnose any issues and recommend relevant solutions tailored to your needs. But, most importantly, get help early and don’t ignore any signs indicating a hearing issue.
