Warning Signs You Should Get A Hearing Test

We depend on our ability to hear to communicate and engage with the world around us every day. Unfortunately, hearing loss is a widespread issue that can affect anyone at any age and if untreated, can significantly lower your quality of life. It’s wise to have a hearing test as soon as you think you or a loved one may experience hearing loss. Here are several red flags that can suggest it’s time for a hearing test.

You Experience Hearing Difficulties in Noisy Situations

Hearing loss may be present if you have trouble hearing in noisy settings like restaurants or other busy spaces. When our hearing is unaffected, our brains can block out background noise and concentrate on the sounds that are most notable to us.

However, if you have hearing loss, it could be challenging for your brain to block out background noise, making it more difficult to pick out individual sounds, such as your friend talking or the waiter asking you to order. Scheduling a hearing test from there is wise.

You Continually Ask Others to Repeat Themselves

You may have hearing loss if you find yourself asking others to repeat themselves frequently.

We can perceive noises and words spoken to us clearly when our hearing is normal, at least for the most part

Even if people are speaking clearly and at a regular volume, if you have hearing loss it may be difficult for you to understand what they are saying or it may be that you hear only certain words and struggle to make out others. This strain to hear can sometimes cause headaches or cause you confidence issues as you have trouble carrying a conversation.

You Have Trouble Hearing High-Pitched Noises

High-pitched noises, like the voices of women and children or the chirping of birds, are frequently affected by hearing loss. Of course, some high-pitched noises become harder to hear as we age, because a minor degree of hearing loss is common as time progresses.

However, if this is notable, or it seems premature for your age, it’s always worth finding peace of mind by visiting a hearing instrument specialist (HIS).

You Have Difficulty Understanding Conversations

If you find it difficult to follow discussions, particularly when several people are speaking at once, this may indicate hearing loss. Even in noisy situations, our normal hearing enables us to readily follow conversations and comprehend what is being said.

Even when someone is speaking clearly and you are looking straight at them, if you have hearing loss it may be difficult for you to understand what they are saying or to follow their sentences easily. Consider if this is replicated in a range of variably loud environments. If so, it might be a sign you need a hearing test.

You Need the Television or Radio at a Higher Volume

An indication of hearing loss might be that others seem to prefer a significantly different volume on their television than you. If your family repeatedly complains about you listening to the television at too high a volume or your smartphone warns you about the dangers of high volume when listening to music due to your settings, it’s an indicator that your normal may not be a common standard. As such, it’s good to be checked out by a capable HIS.

You’re Having Trouble with Balance

A lesser-known side effect of damage to the inner ear is that balance can sometimes be affected. This could be experienced if you’ve been ill as of late, have tried new medication or have dealt with an injury or impact.

While hearing loss itself might not cause balance disorders, it might signify that there’s a problem with your inner ear, which can potentially have hearing loss as one of its symptoms. If you’ve noticed signs of improper balance, vertigo, dizziness or mental health issues like pronounced anxiety or depression, it could be that your ears need to be checked.

Hearing loss can become a natural consequence of problems with the inner ear, so it’s best to have that checked as soon as you can, at least to rule this out for your peace of mind.

If you think you or a loved one may have hearing loss, it’s crucial to undergo a hearing test. With a hearing instrument specialist, you’ll be able to find the right equipment you need. The sooner it’s treated, the sooner you can alleviate the effects and unlock your best quality of life.

Please contact the Bay Area Hearing Care Professionals for the best guidance through your hearing loss experience. You can contact our friendly team at (727) 202-4330.