How Hearing Loss Sneaks Up on You

One thing you should know about hearing loss is that it doesn’t just happen all of a sudden. It’s possible that the illness had been developing for quite some time before you experienced any of the classic signs. Today, we’ll discuss the gradual onset of hearing loss and its implications. Talking to a hearing health professional about this is also a good idea if you are worried about your hearing and think you need treatment.

Most People Don’t Notice a Change Until Later

A majority of people don’t experience hearing loss suddenly, and unless it’s due to an underlying medical condition or noise exposure, they might not even realize it until they’re beyond the age of 65. There’s no denying that it’s much more common in those over 65.

Even if it doesn’t happen at that age, the slow decrease of your hearing will accelerate around that time, and you’ll begin to notice changes. This is the cumulative result of degradation and decline over a period of several years.

It Can Affect People of All Ages

This isn’t just a problem for the elderly; it can affect persons of any age. Hearing loss is a symptom of the aging process, but there are many other probable causes. Some people will develop it after being subjected to a loud noise for an extended period of time or after being exposed to loud noises repeatedly without using ear protection.

Those with a genetic predisposition to hearing loss, as well as those who take a medicine that causes hearing loss, may find that they begin to experience difficulties with sound early in life.

It Tends to Progress Slowly

Hearing impairment is a problem that often develops gradually over the course of time. It won’t be obvious right away; rather, the problem will worsen over time, causing the individual to become increasingly aware of their symptoms. At first, you might not notice much of a difference, and it’s easy to think that the problem is nothing to worry about at this point, but that’s not always the case. It’s important to look into any and all potential changes, no matter how slight, because they could help stop or delay the hearing loss.

Diagnosing Symptoms Can Be Harder

When hearing loss comes on so slowly, people might not even notice any signs. Hearing loss feels like it creeps up steadily over time. The symptoms are frequently more difficult to notice because the changes are so subtle. So even if someone is having the signs of hearing loss, they might not know they have it. That makes it that much harder to fix the problem.

It is not always simple to determine whether or not you are experiencing hearing loss.

Common symptoms include:

• Trouble hearing well and understanding what other people are saying, especially in busy environments.
• Requesting that family members repeat themselves.
• Viewing television or listening to music at a volume that is too loud for the surrounding environment.
• Hearing difficulties when using the phone
• It’s becoming increasingly difficult for you to keep up with a conversation.
• Feeling mentally and physically drained as a result of trying to concentrate while listening.

You Might Not Notice the Change Right Away

It is important to note that the symptoms of hearing loss are often detected by those around the affected person before the person themselves become aware of the problem. If you don’t hear sounds you’ve heard before, it’s simple to forget about them. From the perspective of a family member who must continuously repeat oneself, it becomes more obvious, faster.

Once Identified, Hearing Loss Can Be Treated

There are effective ways to treat hearing loss and its associated symptoms. It’s important to be clear about that because some people just accept their situation instead of going to a hearing health professional and getting help for what they’re going through.

However, hearing loss can only be treated after it has been diagnosed. And this is why it’s so important to get help if you are having any of the signs of hearing loss. Trying to avoid them won’t work.

If you’re worried about your hearing or want to learn more about the treatments and hearing aids available, you can get in touch with Hear Again America at (877) 905-9493, a friendly member of our team will be happy to help, whether you want to discuss technology options or simply book a hearing test.