Age Related Hearing Loss - the First Signs

Up close look at a thumb pressing the up button on the volume function of a tv remote.

It’s frequently said that hearing loss is a gradual process. It can be quite subtle for this exact reason. Your hearing doesn’t get worse in big leaps but rather in tiny steps. And that can make the progressive decline in your hearing difficult to track, especially if you aren’t looking for it. Because of this, it’s worthwhile to be acquainted with the early signs of hearing loss.

An entire assortment of related issues, like anxiety, depression, and even dementia, can result from neglected hearing loss, so even though it’s hard to notice, it’s important to get hearing loss treated as early as possible. You will also prevent further degeneration with prompt treatment. Noticing the early warning signs is the best way to guarantee treatment.

Early signs of hearing loss can be difficult to spot

Early hearing loss has elusive symptoms. You don’t, all of a sudden, lose a major portion of your hearing. The symptoms, instead, become incorporated into your day-to-day lives.

You see, the human body and brain, are amazingly adaptable. When your hearing begins to go, your brain can start to compensate, helping you follow discussions or determine who said what. Perhaps you unconsciously start to tilt your head to the right when your hearing begins to go on the left side.

But your ears and brain can only compensate so much.

Age related hearing loss – first signs

There are some well known signs to watch for if you think that you or a loved one may be experiencing the beginning of age associated hearing loss:

You regularly find yourself asking people to repeat themselves: This one shouldn’t come as much of a shock. In most instances, though, you will do this without recognizing that you are doing it at all. Obviously, if you have a hard time hearing something, you will ask people to repeat what they said. When this starts happening more often, it should raise some red flags about your ears.
You can’t tell the difference between “s” and “th” sounds anymore: These consonant sounds tend to vibrate on a wavelength that becomes increasingly hard to discern as your hearing worsens. You should pay especial attention to the “s” and “th” sounds, but other consonant sounds can also become mixed up.
Elevated volume on devices: This is perhaps the single most well-known sign of hearing loss. It’s classically known and cited. But it’s also easy to see and easy to track (and easy to relate to). If you’re frequently turning up the volume, that’s a sign that you aren’t hearing as well as you used to.
Straining to hear in loud settings: Picking individual voices in a crowded space is one of the things that the brain is quite good at. But as your hearing gets worse, your brain has less information to work with. Hearing in a busy room can quickly become a chore. If following these conversations is more difficult than it used to be (or you find yourself opting out of more conversations than you previously did), it’s worth having your ears checked.

Look out for these subtle signs of hearing loss, as well

There are a few signs of hearing loss that don’t seem to have very much to do with your hearing. These are subtle signs, undoubtedly, but they can be a major indicator that your ears are struggling.

Frequent headaches: When your hearing starts to decline, your ears are still straining to hear sounds. They’re doing hard work. And straining like this over prolonged periods can cause chronic headaches.
Restless nights: Ironically, another indication of hearing loss is insomnia. It seems as if it would be easier to fall asleep when it’s quiet, but you go into a chronic state of restless alertness when you’re always straining to hear.
Difficulty focusing: If your brain is having to devote more resources to hearing, you may have less concentration power available to get through your daily routines. As a result, you might observe some trouble focusing.

When you notice any of these signs of age-related hearing loss, it’s important to schedule an appointment with us to identify whether or not you are dealing with the early development of hearing decline. Then we can help you protect your hearing with the best treatment plan.

Hearing loss is a slow-moving process. But you can stay ahead of it with the correct knowledge.