Ignoring health problems like ear issues can go from bad to worse. Preventable hearing loss is the 6th highest cause of disability around the world.
To prevent any health issues with your hearing, it's best that you are aware of the signs of hearing loss, and if you notice you're having trouble hearing, it is important to take action. The sooner you get it treated, the better the outcome will be.
In this article, we're going to share with you the signs of hearing loss that you need to know. Keep reading!
Health Issues: Potential Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be caused by a range of factors. It can be genetics inherited from a parent or caused by a genetic mutation affecting the inner ear. Health issues with infection can cause inflammation.
Aging or presbycusis usually develops slowly over time. Delicate receptors of the ear are starting to change or deteriorate. Ototoxic medications can damage the inner ear and nerve, as well as change the chemistry of the brain.
Ear injuries like a direct blow to the ear of loud noise, objects being forced, the wrong way of cleaning your ears, a sudden change in pressure, and extremely cold temperatures can all lead to ear trauma.
Each of these should be carefully considered as a potential contributing factor when seeking treatment for hearing loss.
Health Issues: Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is one of the health issues that can affect anyone, no matter how old or young they are. It can greatly impact their quality of life.
Here are the seven common signs that a person might have hearing loss:
1. Decreased Sound Clarity
It can be frustrating when you can hear the sound, but you struggle to understand what someone is saying. Sounds may become distorted or garbled in your ears, as if someone is mumbling or as if you're underwater. You're relying on lip-reading or facial cues to understand conversations.
2. Difficulty Hearing Environmental Sounds
If you've noticed having difficulty hearing and getting distracted in a situation that has background sounds such as low or loud noise, or other people having their conversation, you may have a problem with an imbalance in environmental sounds. If you experience this, there may be an obstruction in your auditory system.
3. Ringing or Buzzing in the Ears
It is also known as tinnitus; this symptom can range from a low-level hum to intense and distracting noise. It can range from a momentary sound to one that lasts for an extended period of time.
People oftentimes note the buzzing as a sound in one ear (unilateral) or in both ears (bilateral). While the cause of tinnitus is often unknown and may not be related to hearing loss, if it lasts for an extended duration, it's important to have it checked out right away. A permanent or prolonged ringing of the ears might be a sign of a more serious issue and should never be dismissed or ignored.
4. Feeling Exhausted
Hearing loss can also lead to constant awkwardness and mental fatigue as one struggles to make sense of their surroundings. When it comes to fatigue and exhaustion, a decrease or complete lack of energy is often a result of cognitive strain due to frequent misinterpreting of auditory information. You're starting to focus too much on the lips of the speaker or asking them to repeat themselves multiple times.
5. Feeling Dizziness
Research has shown that hearing loss is associated with balance problems, including dizziness or vertigo. Those with unilateral or partial hearing loss in one ear can experience a feeling of disorientation and dizziness in some situations due to difficulty in discriminating sound direction and location.
6. Excessive Ear Wax Buildup
It's important to note that ear wax buildup is natural and healthy, as it serves many important functions, including protecting the ear canal and trapping debris. However, building up too much wax can be a sign that our ears aren't functioning healthily and need to get to be checked.
Too much wax buildup can prevent sound from properly entering the ear canal, making it difficult to hear. It can also lead to itching, discomfort, and infection.
7. Need to Turn the Volume Up
If you find that you are struggling to understand people, phone, television, radio, or music without having the sound uncomfortably loud, it is a sign that you may be experiencing hearing loss.
Hearing loss can affect your daily life, professional life, and relationships, as you may prefer to avoid noisy or crowded places like restaurants, parties, and social gatherings. Don't let the signs of hearing loss go ignored because it can lead to further health issues such as increased stress levels, depression, and anxiety.
Health Issues: Treating Hearing Loss
Early diagnosis and treatment can help maintain the hearing you have and ensure that you have the best possible hearing health outcomes. If you are experiencing the said sign and symptoms, it's important to consult with an audiologist or hearing health professional to look into causes or treatment options like assistive technology.
Assistive technology tools have been developed to help with hearing loss. These tools help the user to filter out background noise and amplify sounds.
Hearing Aids
Depending on the level of hearing loss, it remains the best medical intervention. Hearing aids are small, discreet, and attached to the ear for amplification and sound clarity. They can be adjusted for varying levels of hearing loss, allowing individuals to enjoy the sounds of life again. It's important to compare Oticon hearing aids, Widex, and other brands to get the best that will help you.
Cochlear Implants
It's a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who suffers from severe hearing loss or deafness.
Assistive Listening Devices
It can help you better hear and understand conversations in difficult listening environments. Some of these devices are: amplified telephones and TTYs, TV listening systems, and alerting systems.
With these tools, individuals with hearing loss can communicate more effectively and lead a more independent life.
Your Action to Protect Your Health
Hearing loss should not be ignored or overlooked and can lead to more serious problems if it goes untreated. It's important to be aware of the signs and take action if you believe it is happening.
Be sure to consult your physician if you experience any of these signs of hearing loss, as prompt action is crucial to maintaining your hearing. Take charge today and start addressing your hearing concerns.
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