Bananas taste much different then they did in the past. That’s because modern banana farmers grow an exceptionally different type of banana then they used to. Today’s banana can develop easily in a wide variety of climates, are more robust, and can sprout faster. They don’t taste the same either. So how did this change take place without us noticing? Well, the change wasn’t a fast one. The change was so gradual you never noticed.
The same thing can occur with your ears and hearing loss. It’s not like you get up one day and can’t hear anything. For most individuals, hearing loss advances gradually, often so slowly that you don’t really recognize what’s taking place.
That’s regrettable because early treatment can help maintain your hearing. You can take measures to protect your hearing if you’re aware that it’s at risk. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these seven signs of waning hearing.
7 signs you should get a hearing assessment
Hearing loss isn’t always thoroughly grasped as it happens gradually over time. It’s not as if you’ll go to a noisy rock concert and the next day find yourself completely incapable of hearing. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) increases over time. The sooner you deal with your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. Neglected hearing loss has been connected to a greater risk of problems like dementia, social isolation, and depression, so it’s not something you want to mess around with.
These seven indicators are what you should be paying attention to out for. A hearing test is the only way to be sure, but perhaps these warning signs will prompt you to take some early action.
Sign #1: You’re constantly turning up the volume
Are you continually cranking up the volume on your devices? Sure, possibly it’s just that all of your favorite actors and artists have started mumbling, or that the sound mixing on TV shows is drastically different than it used to be. But it’s also possible (if not likely) that you’re hearing is slowly degrading, and that you’re raising the volume of your favorite TV show or music to compensate.
If others keep telling you the TV is too high this is especially likely. They will frequently observe your hearing loss before you become aware of it.
Sign #2: You failed to hear your phone ringing (or the doorbell)
It could be a sign that you’re having hearing issues if you are continuously missing everyday sounds. Here are some common sounds you might be missing:
- Somebody knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell: You thought your friend unexpectedly walked into your house but actually missed him knocking.
- Alarms and timers: Did you sleep through your alarm clock ringing? Did the dinner get burned? It may not be your alarm’s fault.
- Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you’re missing them? You’re more likely to miss text messages than phone calls since no one makes calls nowadays.
You’re missing important sounds while driving, like honking horns or trucks beeping while backing up, and your friends and family are becoming scared to drive with you.
Sign #3: You keep asking people to repeat what they said
Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? It’s likely that it’s an issue with your hearing that’s causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they’re talking with you. This is especially true if people do repeat themselves and you still don’t hear what they’re saying. Looks like a hearing test is in order.
Sign #4: Is everyone starting to mumble?
This one goes fairly well with #3 and we might even call it #3-A. If it sounds as if everybody around you is continuously mumbling or saying something under their breath, the reality is… well, they probably aren’t. It’s stressful to always think people are mumbling about you, so it may be a comfort to learn they’re actually not. The reality is that you’re just not hearing them because of your loss of hearing.
If you’re attempting to talk to somebody in a noisy setting or with someone who has a high pitched voice this can be especially relevant.
Sign #5: Loved ones keep recommending you have your hearing tested
Your family and friends probably know you quite well. And some of them most likely have healthy hearing. It’s a good idea to listen to your family members (particularly the younger ones) if they are telling you something is going on with your hearing.
We get that it’s all too easy to sort of rationalize this recommendation away. Perhaps you feel like they just caught you on a bad day or something. But taking their advice could maintain the health of your hearing.
Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)
Ringing in your ears is a condition known as tinnitus. It’s very common. When you have hearing loss, your tinnitus can become severe for a couple of reasons:
- Both can be caused by damage: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be the result of damage. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Tinnitus is more noticeable when you have hearing loss: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your day-to-day life. But as those everyday noises fade to the background (due to hearing loss), the tinnitus becomes comparatively louder and significantly more noticeable.
It could be an indication that you’re dealing with problems with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. And that means (no shock here), yes, you need to come see us for a hearing test.
Sign #7: You feel fatigued after social interactions
Perhaps you’ve always been an introvert at heart, and that’s why social situations have grown completely draining. Or maybe, and just hear us out here (again with the puns), your hearing isn’t what it used to be.
Your hearing could be the cause when you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social event. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain tries really hard to fill in those holes. This is fatiguing (no matter how good your brain is), especially over the long run. So when you’re in especially strenuous situations (like a noisy space), you may experience even more exhaustion.
The first step is calling us for an appointment
The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage in our lifetimes. Just how much (and how frequently you were using hearing protection) may have a big affect on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss at all.
So it might be an indication that the banana is changing if you encounter any of these signs. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get tested! You’ll be able to get treatment as soon as you are diagnosed.
