One in six adults suffer from hearing problems. A new report from the MRC Institute of Hearing Research, published in The Guardian, says that many people don’t even realise that they are losing this vital sense until they start to have problems in social situations.
How to treat hearing loss
One of the most significant signs that your hearing is deteriorating is when the volume on the TV or radio doesn’t appear to be sufficient. Your family may point out to you that the sound is too loud, but you won’t be able to recognise this fact. An easy way of discovering whether your hearing is becoming impaired is to visit a specialist, and if you click here you can learn more about hearing tests and aids.
Early signs of hearing deterioration
Your hearing can diminish slowly over time. Many people won’t even recognise that their hearing is damaged until the problem becomes acute. If you have problems understanding people’s speech over the phone, or you find it difficult to understand a conversation unless the speaker is standing in front of you, you may need help. Another factor to bear in mind is whether you are constantly asking people to repeat themselves. If speech against a backdrop of noise sounds muffled, you should be aware that you will need to go for a hearing test.
Illness and hearing loss
If you’ve had a cold or flu and your hearing has been affected, you may think that this is as a result of a temporary infection. It’s a good idea to seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner if your hearing remains affected for any length of time. You may have picked up an infection that can cause long-term damage to your ears.
Relying solely on your eyes
Another clue that you may be losing your hearing is if you realise that you are starting to rely on your eyes far more than in the past. For example, if you’re trying to cross a road, and only feel confident doing so when you can see but not hear the oncoming traffic, then you should go and seek help. If you’re socialising less often because you’re finding the strain of concentration in order to communicate effectively too excessive, this might also be a sign that you should have your hearing tested.
Social noise can affect your hearing
We live in a noisy society. The decibels that are pumped out in nightclubs, at festivals and through our headphones will all contribute to hearing loss. If you leave an environment, which is noisy, and your ears keep on ringing, you will have damaged your hearing. The ringing sound may be a precursor to tinnitus. Adrian Davis, professor of hearing and communication at University College London, told the Guardian that, ‘the noise in open-plan corporate offices and call centres for instance,’ can also damage your hearing. It’s important to detect the first signs of deafness, and this condition isn’t just restricted to older members of society.
This is a guest post. Links have been provided. Image via Google.
Leave a Reply