Concerned about your hearing? You are not alone. In the US alone, over 48 million people live with hearing loss at some level in at least one ear. While around 1 in 8 people over the age of 8 have hearing loss in both ears.
This number is both alarming and significant, as it underscores the importance of paying attention to your hearing and understanding the changes that may indicate hearing loss or the need for hearing aids to help restore any loss you might be experiencing.
What are the signs you're experiencing hearing loss that you need to get checked out? Getting a hearing check is a simple and painless process. You can start by scheduling an appointment with an audiologist or a hearing healthcare professional. They will conduct a series of tests to determine the extent of your hearing loss and recommend the best course of action.
Sounds are Muffled
Are people seemingly mumbling, or do you feel like sounds aren't quite as clear as they used to be? If you find yourself straining or asking people to speak more clearly because things sound muffled, this could be an indicator that something is going on with your ears. It could be a simple case of earwax buildup or a health issue, such as an infection, but muffled sounds need to be investigated further to determine if you have hearing loss.
People Complain About The Volume you Listen to The Tv At
This is a significant indicator that something is amiss with your hearing. Having to increase the volume you listen to the TV or music too can signal that your hearing isn't quite as sharp as it once was. Again, this can be temporary due to acute illnesses or injury, and with time and treatment, it can be resolved. However, if this isn't the case and you simply need the volume to be increased to hear things clearly or at all, it might be time for a hearing check to see if you need hearing aids.
You Can't Use The Telephone
Do you find yourself avoiding the telephone and texting more than you can, or do you ignore calls more often? If this seems familiar and the reason is that you can't quite hear properly, regardless of the volume level, then your hearing might be diminishing, and you may find that you need help to understand what is happening. A refusal to take or make calls due to an inability to hear well enough is a sign of hearing loss, and some aids and devices can help with this once you know the type of hearing loss or health issues you're dealing with.
You Are Becoming More Reclusive
Turning from a social butterfly to a more isolated, reclusive person isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, but if the reason you are not engaging with people is that you can't understand them or struggle in social circles, it's time to get a hearing test. Today's hearing aids are equipped with numerous technological features to help you hear in various environments.
They come in various styles, from discreet in-the-ear models to powerful behind-the-ear devices equipped with features such as noise-cancelling properties to directional microphones, and more, hearing aids can be your way back to life as a social butterfly if you removed yourself for this reason.
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