There are several reasons why hearing loss may occur. It can be due to injury, disease/genetic disorders, or simply aging. Hearing loss is something that can build up over a period of time, gradually progressing into complete deafness.
Do you suspect that you have hearing loss? Well, even if you do, there is no way to come to a definite conclusion until you get yourself checked by a doctor.
But, before you do that, make sure you’re experiencing the following symptoms because, if you’re not, you may not really have a problem.
Common Symptoms to Look For
Find yourself asking people to repeat things? If yes, it could indicate an early sign of hearing loss. Similarly, you might also have trouble following conversations, especially if it involves more than two to three people. Now, all this can occur even if you’re just someone who has problems paying attention, but it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor.
Apart from these issues, some of the other signs of possible hearing loss include:
• Difficulty hearing while conversing.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Difficulty hearing in noisy areas such as the street, restaurants, malls, or any location with large crowds.
• Perception of other people’s voices sounding muffled.
• Responding with vague or irrelevant statements to questions/discussions.
• Focusing on people’s lips and facial expressions to understand what they are saying.
What we’ve discussed so far only covers the symptoms that are relevant to social situations. There are other categories of symptoms for hearing loss that need to be considered as well.
To begin, we have emotional symptoms such as feeling stressed or anxious when having to strain yourself to hear things correctly. Do you get annoyed when you can’t hear someone and have to ask them to repeat themselves? Do you become nervous when you’re in a situation that entails listening and understanding and find yourself avoiding them as much as you can?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then it might be a good idea to get yourself checked.
Emotional symptoms apart, there are medical factors that need to be considered as well. For instance, a history of hearing loss in the family does indicate the possibility of hearing loss in future generations. So, if there have been cases of hearing loss in your family, it might be a good idea to visit a doctor.
Other than genetic factors, certain medications can also end up harming hearing functions. For instance, ototoxic drugs have been known to cause hearing loss as a side effect.
Pre-existing medical conditions have also been known to cause hearing loss. This includes conditions related to thyroid production, the heart, circulation, and glucose levels (diabetes). Finally, even repeated exposure to loud noises or one-time exposure to explosive noise can cause hearing loss.
Treating Hearing Loss
The exact treatment for your hearing loss problem depends on the level of hearing loss you have and the cause behind it. There are multiple treatments and your doctor is the only person who can suggest what’s best for you.
Contact Our Office
Treating hearing loss problems early can help avoid serious complications down the line. If you’re interested in learning more about the treatments available to you, contact our office to schedule your initial consultation.