Are you having trouble hearing people? You could be dealing with hearing loss.
While most people associate hearing loss with older individuals, anyone can develop hearing loss from children to senior citizens. While it might seem obvious to tell whether or not you are dealing with hearing loss, sometimes the problem is gradual enough that you might not even notice it right away. So, what are the warning signs of hearing loss? Our St. Luke's Hospital, otolaryngologist Dr. Paul Burk is here to tell you what to be on the lookout for.
What are the signs of hearing loss?
Hearing loss is often slow and gradual, which means that it isn’t always obvious when someone starts experiencing issues with hearing loss. Common warning signs that you might be experiencing hearing loss include:
- Turning the volume up on the radio or television in order to hear it
- Asking people to repeat themselves often
- Having trouble understanding or hearing people in noisy settings
- Difficulty hearing people over the phone
- Reading lips in order to understand what they are saying
- Thinking people are often mumbling
These symptoms can affect a person emotionally and socially, significantly impacting their relationship with friends and family. Think about it. You sit down to enjoy a relaxing dinner with friends and suddenly you realize that you can’t pay attention or understand anything those around you are saying because you only seem to notice the clanking of utensils, the bustling of the waiters and the white noise of the restaurant. You feel isolated from your friends as they laugh and enjoy rousing conversation. This is what living with hearing loss feels like.
Our ENT doctor in St. Luke's Hospital, doesn’t want you to feel left out of the excitement of your own life, which is why if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above it’s important that you get a hearing evaluation as soon as possible. Putting off treatment for hearing loss is not a good idea, as it can take your ears longer to adjust to a hearing aid. The sooner we fit you for a hearing aid the sooner you’ll be able to feel more present in your social life.
Are you having trouble hearing those around you clearly? Do you have to blast your headphones or television? If so, it’s important to turn to our ENT specialists in St. Luke's Hospital, who can provide you with a thorough hearing evaluation and help restore hearing. Don’t wait to get this problem addressed.