6 signs you might have hearing loss
The numbers continue to rise, in fact, by 2030, almost 630 million people worldwide will have some form of disabled hearing. The sounds of the modern world aren't helping, from lawnmowers, to blow dryers, to headphones, your ears are constantly bombarded by more noise than they are able to handle.
The good news is that the sooner you detect and treat hearing loss, the sooner you can improve your hearing health. The first step is knowing the signs.
One study found that participants with a 25-decibel hearing loss, which is considered mild, were almost three times more likely to have fallen in the past.
When your brain fails to hear, it may use sight to try to deduce the conversation by reading lips or even hand gestures.
1. The TV is turned up
If you keep turning up the volume on the TV, it may be a sign that your inner ear organ, also known as your cochlea, is showing signs of wear. This can make it hard to hear high tones, causing music and sound effects to overpower the dialogue or making voices difficult, especially the voices of women and children. For this same reason, you might find yourself missing the microwave beep or worse, your morning alarm clock.
2. You're reading lips
Do you find yourself staring at people's mouths instead of their eyes when they speak? When your brain fails to hear, it may use sight to try to deduce the conversation by reading lips or even hand gestures. This can make phone calls difficult since you're unable to see the person talking.
3. "What" is your new favorite word
Asking people to repeat themselves over and over again is a common sign of hearing loss. If loved ones have noticed you asking them to repeat themselves, you are most likely a candidate for hearing aids.
4. Your balance is off
You rely on site, touch, and sound to move safely through the world around you, so when your hearing is off, your spatial awareness can be affected too, leading to an uptick in falls. One study found that participants with a 25-decibel hearing loss, which is considered mild, were almost three times more likely to have fallen in the past.
One study found that participants with a 25-decibel hearing loss, which is considered mild, were almost three times more likely to have fallen in the past.
5. You're faking conversation
If you've had to brush up on your acting skills by nodding or responding to conversations with vague comments such as "interesting" to feign understanding, it's time to consider a solution. Hearing aids can help you to make genuine connections with the people around you.
6. Social events strain you
If you've started to feel drained or have headaches after cocktail parties or dinner out, your brain may be working extra hard to decipher what others are saying, leaving you with less energy. Straining to hear, loud music, multiple conversations, and laughter may become more exhausting than fun, causing you to skip out on activities that you used to enjoy.
While hearing loss cannot be reversed, Jabra Enhance's professionally programmed hearing aids can help. Nearly invisible and Bluetooth equipped, they reduce unwanted background noise and prioritize voices so you can hear what you want, wherever you are. Plus, an on-call audiologist is just a tap away via our app.
Hearing aids are known to benefit relationships, reduce anxiety and depression, and give wearers the freedom to stay active, improving your lifestyle in more ways than one.
Learn about the Enhance Select Bundle or take the first step to better hearing with our online hearing test.
© 2022 GN Consumer Hearing Corporation