Untreated hearing loss can have major effects on your overall health and quality of life. Research shows that, left untreated, hearing loss can affect mental health and cognitive health, increase rates of depression and anxiety, cause social isolation and decrease safety and independence. Despite all that, only one in five people with hearing loss seek help for their condition, sometimes waiting ten years or more.
That said, it’s common to be in the beginning stages of hearing loss and not even realize it. So, let’s discuss some of the early symptoms of hearing loss, and why they might be easy to miss if you’re not on the lookout.
Early Signs of Hearing Loss
The most recognizable sign of hearing loss is difficulty following conversations. This could manifest as mishearing words, being overwhelmed by multiple voices speaking, asking people to repeat themselves, pretending to understand when you didn’t hear, and taking a moment to catch up on the meaning of the words spoken. If conversations become difficult, confusing or frustrating for you, it’s a good indication to get your hearing checked out.
Another sign of hearing loss that you might not register is a phenomenon called listener’s fatigue. When you have hearing loss, your brain is forced to work harder to receive sound information from the ears and process it correctly. This causes it to expend a larger amount of energy on the act of hearing and listening than it used to, meaning you get tired faster.
Why It’s Hard to Notice at First
Our brains are incredible, complex organs, and they are adept at acclimating to new circumstances, meaning that someone with hearing loss may, both consciously and unconsciously, adopt new habits and mannerisms that accommodate their hearing loss.
Additionally, the signs discussed above are sometimes easy to dismiss as a symptom of a different problem: you blame difficulty following conversations on everyone mumbling or too much background noise; you blame listener’s fatigue on poor sleep quality or a busy schedule. You may not attribute these symptoms to hearing loss.
When to Seek Help
As mentioned above, hearing loss has significant ripple effects on your quality of life. If you feel like you’ve noticed any symptoms of hearing loss, don’t wait to seek help. Instead, be proactive and visit an audiologist as soon as you can. They can perform a hearing test that evaluates the extent of your hearing loss and perhaps the cause of it. If you’re ready to take action on hearing loss, call Rancho Santa Fe Audiology today to schedule an appointment. We’re honored to start your hearing health journey with you.
