It’s not like you wake up one day and lose your hearing. Hearing loss affects most people in varying degrees, especially as they age. One in three Americans experience age-related hearing loss. Most of them are well into their seventies before they begin to feel a difference. You may not notice the problem right away, however there are some early warning signals.

The signs of early hearing loss are progressive and inconspicuous. When hearing loss or other health problems are detected early, they can be prevented or at least slowed down. However, if you don’t know what the indications are, you won’t be able to recognize them. Keep an eye out for these eight subtle telltale symptoms that you may be experiencing hearing loss.

Ringing in the Ears

While this is not a subtle indication, people tend to overlook it until it is distracting. Hearing loss is often accompanied by a condition known as tinnitus. Tinnitus is a sign that something is wrong with your body, therefore it’s critical that you don’t ignore it. Apart from hearing loss, tinnitus can be triggered by hypertension, trauma or a circulatory condition. Your hearing instrument specialist is your best bet if you want an accurate diagnosis.

You Don’t Like to Talk on The Phone

It’s simple to find reasons to justify phone troubles such as:

  • I’m still getting used to the modern technology on my phone.
  • My phone got wet or fell to the ground.
  • I’ve got an old phone.

Consider why you don’t like to use your phone. If you can’t hear what’s being said even with the volume up, have someone else test the phone. If others can hear the dialogue but you can’t, it’s a problem with your ears.

It Always Seems Like People Are Mumbling

In the last few months, it seems like everyone is mumbling, from your kids to the TV anchors to your neighbors. What is the likelihood of it being possible that everyone in your life has suddenly lost their ability to pronounce words clearly?

It’s much more likely that you’re not hearing things the same way. One of the first symptoms that your hearing is deteriorating is mumbling or lost consonants like S or T.

What Did You Say?

The only way you’ll know that you can’t hear people talking anymore is if someone points out that you say what? a great deal.  People who see you every day, like your coworkers or your family, are usually the first to notice that you have hearing loss. Pay attention if someone mentions it.

You Can Hear Some People Better Than Others

You may be able to comprehend your neighbor, but when his wife enters the conversation, everything becomes jumbled. This is a common symptom of sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to the nerves that convey electrical impulses to the brain.

Because her voice has a higher pitch, it isn’t as clear. You might be dealing with the same issue with your granddaughter or daughter. Even modern technology, such as a microwave or an alarm clock, can create a loop. Those are also high-pitched tones.

Going Out Isn’t as Fun as It Used to Be

Again, there are people who mutter, which isn’t very enjoyable to be around. Also, when it’s noisy, it’s much more difficult to understand what others are saying. When you’re at a restaurant and people are talking or the AC is on, you can’t hear a thing.

You Never Used to Feel So Tired

Fighting to understand what other people are saying can become exhausting. Your brain needs to work harder to comprehend what it does hear, leaving you tired. It is possible that your other senses will shift as well. If your most recent eye exam came back normal, the next step is to have your hearing tested.

Your TV

Rather than blaming the service provider for having to keep the TV turned up, try getting a hearing test. It can be difficult to follow dialogue if you have hearing loss. For example, the background music makes everything sound hazy. Don’t forget about the air conditioner, ceiling fan and other items in the room. If the volume continues to rise, your hearing may be compromised.

The good news is that a professional hearing test from Affordable Hearing will tell you for sure. If you find out you have a hearing problem, hearing aids should help you get back to normal. Call us today at Irmo: 803-749-6017 or Orangeburg + Santee: 803-531-6403.