Do you frequently have trouble hearing certain things? If so, you might be suffering from hearing loss and in need of a hearing aid. This is not something that should be taken lightly; it can greatly harm the quality of your life and negatively impact your work. Here are five signs that you may need a hearing aid.
You complain that people are speaking too softly or mumbling.
If you have trouble following conversations,you might be exhibiting symptoms of hearing loss and in need of a hearing aid. One of the common types of hearing loss is where you have normal or near-normal hearing in low-and mid-pitched sounds, such as vowels, but have hearing loss with high-pitched sounds such as consonants. The high-pitched consonant sounds are the most crucial for speech clarity and apprehension. And not being to hear these sounds properly can make it extremely difficult to properly engage in conversations.
This type of hearing loss can be treated by a good hearing aid. However, it should be noted that hearing aids don’t restore your hearing back to normal. Rather, their function is to amplify sounds in a specific range of pitches. These include background noise, speech, and environmental sounds such as birds singing, bells ringing, conversations from nearby tables at a restaurant, or noisy traffic.
People constantly tell you to turn the volume down.
Another indicator that you may suffer from hearing problems and are in need of a hearing aid is when others constantly complain that you have the volume up too high when listening to music or watching television but it sounds fine to you.
You have difficulty understanding people on the phone.
If you have trouble understanding people on the phone or your own voice—no matter how loud it’s turned up—you might be suffering from hearing loss and in need of a hearing aid. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to hear people on the phone, especially if it’s an important work-related call.
You have trouble understanding the dialogue in a movie.
Are you that person who always annoys the person sitting next to you at a movie or play with, “What did that guy say?” If so, you may be in need of a hearing aid. One telltale sign is not being able to understand the dialogue in a movie. This can be especially frustrating when you’re trying to follow the dialogue of a movie that you’ve really been looking forward to seeing but end up not being able to follow it.
Steps to Take
If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of hearing loss, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor can check for wax buildup and discuss any medical causes behind your hearing loss. (Hearing loss can be caused by a number of things, including damage to the inner ear, gradual wax buildup, ear infection, long-term exposure to loud noises, and aging.)
If your doctor’s visit doesn’t result in any concrete solutions to your problem, you should see a certified audiologist. An audiologist specializes in hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. There are a number of highly qualified audiologists out there from which to choose, including those on the staff of Hearing Health USA—an audiologist company that specializes in hearing aids, hearing tests, pediatrics, and tinnitus treatments nationwide.
Hearing Health USA’s team of certified audiologists are able to perform all the tests necessary to evaluate and diagnose your hearing issues. Additionally, the company offers a wide range of hearing aid devices from the industry’s top manufacturers. Hearing Health USA’s hearing aid specialists work closely with each client to determine which device is the best fit for their specific lifestyle and hearing loss.
Hearing Health USA is dedicated to bringing quality hearing health and education to local communities across the country. And it boasts a network of more than 200 licensed and certified hearing care professionals who provide patients with the best care possible.
