You know you’re feeling cranky these days but you’re not quite certainly why. Well, you did feel left out earlier today when no one took the time to bring you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was annoying. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming irritated when you kept asking her to turn the volume on the TV up. What’s the story with that?

Maybe the real problem is hearing loss!

Hearing loss is an issue for around 40 million people in the US and can sneak up on you with age. And, the problem doesn’t end at your ears, either. Research indicates that even mild hearing loss puts you at risk for memory problems, dementia, and even depression. You might have a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss but you think it’s merely an indication of aging. Maybe, you missed essential conversational cues and your coworkers didn’t actually leave you out of the meeting after all. Honestly, it can be very aggravating when you can’t hear during your daily life.

Learn more about hearing loss

A good place to begin is learning more about what you’re coping with. Hearing loss does happen to many individuals as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to excessively loud noise can also be the cause for others. Everything from the music you listened to when you were 16, to driving with the window down in traffic, to mowing lawns and cleaning up leaves with that noisy leaf blower could contribute to a loss of hearing. The fragile mechanisms in your ear can be damaged by lots of sounds in the world.

Another possible cause of hearing loss is chronic disease that becomes more common with age. When you have conditions that cause issues with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.

Recognize the signs

People usually take their hearing for granted, so when it starts to fail they don’t notice the signs:

• You always feel like you are being left out of the discussions
• You’re always asking people to repeat themselves or even worse, saying ‘what’ all of the time
• Struggling to hear words when there’s background noise like a fan or the AC

Naturally, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been coping with any of these signs! Depression and social solitude can be the outcome of feeling detached from your world.

Create a plan to treat hearing loss

One of the initial things you can do is ask family and friends if they have seen you having a hard time hearing. It might seem like a challenging conversation but it’s a really worthwhile one. If the answer is ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing exam should be your next step and will clarify things for you. Try to get a loved one to accompany you to your exam. It can be helpful to have a calm and supportive person with you.

Your hearing exam will not only help to confirm your hearing loss but it will also gauge the extent of it. If hearing loss is established, we will recommend the next strategy for you based on the results of the test. Usually, hearing aids will be a principal part of the treatment plan. Don’t worry, there are so many options and features that you’re sure to find hearing aids that fit your lifestyle!

Picking out quality hearing aids

We’ll have suggestions that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. You will probably need to test a few brands and models before you discover the best fit for your specific taste and hearing requirements. Today’s hearing aids do lots more than simply amplify sound. They can identify the direction that sound is coming from, block out background sound, and even link to smartphones and computers. Different brands and kinds of hearing aids offer different features, so do some research to determine what features you require to improve your life.

Think about the style you want for your hearing aids, too. Some models have no color and are virtually invisible and other models come in vibrant colors.

Schedule a hearing exam with our qualified hearing specialists right away if you think you might be suffering with hearing loss. Don’t you think it’s time to find out and end your grumpy state of mind?

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment

References
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/hearing-loss-america/