4 Signs You May Need a Hearing Test

Contrary to popular belief, hearing loss is not only found among older populations. In fact, there have been rising numbers of young adults with hearing loss. This modern world has changed in the last decade and a half, with almost everyone connected to an electronic device. It should come as no surprise that earbuds, which deliver loud volumes in close proximity to your eardrums, are a culprit for hearing loss among younger populations.

Hearing loss may occur to anyone, at any age. There are different causes for hearing loss, from exposure to loud noises over extended periods of time to a natural process of aging. Hearing loss often occurs gradually, such that it may not appear at first that you are experiencing any changes to your hearing.

It is a common misunderstanding that hearing loss means you cannot hear soft sounds. In reality, hearing loss appears in many different ways, impeding how you receive sounds, specific frequencies of sounds, and the way you recognize speech. People wait an average of seven years from the time they first experience changes in their hearing before they seek help. If you notice any of the four signs below in your daily life, it may be time to schedule a hearing test with us at Advanced Tech Hearing.

Have your loved ones complained on more than on occasion about the volume on your devices? Whether it’s your car radio or the TV at home, turning the volume up as far as it goes is a tell-tale sign of hearing loss. A common complaint with hearing loss is “I can hear, but I can’t understand.” You may be turning up the volume on these different devices in an effort to make sense of the audio, but you may find that it doesn’t help. At the same time, these high volumes could be jeopardizing the hearing of the people around you. Hearing specialists recommend listening to sounds on devices at 60% of the volume, but if you’ve found that the volume is consistently turned up high, it may be time to schedule a hearing test.

Hearing loss interferes with our ability to recognize speech. Conversations may be difficult to follow, especially if they are in noisy places and there are multiple people speaking. Normal hearing allows us to register conversations at 60 decibels, but with hearing loss, you may ask people to repeat themselves or feel frustrated following fast-paced conversations. Hearing loss may also lead to misunderstandings of meaning and words within conversations. Sounds that are similar, such as words that begin with “b” and “p” for example, might cause you to mishear. If you find that you’ve been saying, “What?” a lot more often than before, come visit us at Advanced Tech Hearing.

In the quiet of your own home, hearing may not be so difficult. However, going to a busy place, whether it’s a restaurant, a grocery store, or a train station, may change the way you receive sounds. Competing noise poses difficulty for people who are hard of hearing. Conversations with dining companions in a restaurant may be difficult to follow, especially if there is more than one person talking. You may find it difficult in public transportation hubs and airports to hear announcements. Hearing loss affects how we focus on sounds. A hearing test would provide information on the configuration of your hearing loss and assist us in finding the perfect solution to meet your hearing needs.

Over the long term, an accumulation of awkward and difficult experiences with conversation and loud spaces might lead you to avoid social interaction all together. Studies have shown the isolating effects of untreated hearing loss, and it’s no surprise. Being hard of hearing makes it difficult to maintain the same level of social interactions with people and to continue the activities, team sports, and hobbies you love. This could also lead to an increased risk for depression and anxiety. The emotional effects of hearing loss can be reversed by being fitted for a hearing aid that is customized to meet your lifestyle.

If you have noticed any of these experiences in your daily life, consider taking a hearing test. Here at Advanced Tech Hearing, we work with you find a compatible hearing solution to reconnect you to your life and loved ones.