Are you starting to wonder if you’re losing your hearing? Does speech sound muddy? Do you feel embarrassed asking people to constantly repeat themselves? Are crowded rooms too noisy?
Hearing loss can happen to anyone. It doesn’t just affect people who are older or who are often exposed to loud noises. In fact, among adults, hearing loss is the third-most common chronic physical condition in the United States, and is more prevalent than diabetes or cancer.1
When you can’t hear well, everyday activities such as socializing, working, or enjoying hobbies can be more challenging. It’s no wonder hearing loss has been associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety, especially among those who don’t currently own hearing aids.2,3
Hearing loss is often gradual. Many don’t even realize they have it. And usually, because of the cost, once they notice they have hearing loss, they delay getting treated. But waiting can mean missing out on some of life’s most special moments.
Here are five signs that you or a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss.
1. It’s hard to hear the TV or radio.
Is your volume higher than the halfway point? Do you require closed captions to be able to understand the plot? Do others often say the TV is too loud? This common sign of hearing loss is easy to track by paying attention to the volume indicator.
2. Conversations are confusing.
How often do you need to ask someone to repeat what they said? Do you read lips instead of making eye contact? If you’re experiencing hearing loss, communication can be frustrating for you and the people you’re trying to talk to.
3. You avoid noisy places.
Do you search for restaurants that are slower paced and less crowded? If so, have you ever thought about why you prefer those types of places? Prescription hearing aids can reduce the sounds of chaos and cacophony while enhancing the speech of the people you want to hear.
4. Kids are hard to understand.
Higher-pitched frequencies, like children’s voices, are often the first to go as hearing degrades. The sounds made by the letters S, H, and F are also among the first to diminish. Other high-pitched details, like crickets chirping or birds singing, may go unnoticed until you treat your hearing loss.
5. You have ringing in your ears.
Tinnitus, a condition commonly described as constant ringing, roaring, clicking, or buzzing in the ear, is temporarily experienced by many. But for many with hearing loss, the ringing never goes away. Today’s hearing aids often have features that provide tinnitus relief.
How many of these signs are affecting your life or your loved ones? It’s time to take the next step. Check your hearing from the comfort of your couch in just a few minutes with our hearing screener. Or learn more about how TruHearing® can help.
1 Summary Health Statistics for US Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2012. National Center for Health Statistics. 2014.
2 MarkeTrak 2022. Hearing Industries Association (HIA).
3 Association of Hearing Loss With Psychological Distress and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Adults in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2020.