Medical, Social, and Emotional Signs of Hearing Loss

Suffering from hearing loss is much more than living in a quiet world.

The modern world is noisy: From the ever present noise of traffic to the intrusion of people talking on cell phones, to loud laughter and lawn-mowers. Noise is part of our everyday landscape.  However, when the noise starts to fade out, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

While it’s not unpleasant to no longer hear vehicles and trucks booming past, crossing a road and not being aware of oncoming traffic is a distinct disadvantage.

Another downside is that hearing loss is not selective. It doesn’t skip the bad stuff and keep the good; it’s equally as likely to deaden conversation as clatter from the kitchen. Hearing loss impacts the social, emotional and even medical aspects of your life.

Social Signs of Hearing Loss

Poor hearing develops slowly and isn’t flagged with a big label saying, “Today I have hearing loss.” It is much more subtle and comes on slowly. You might be increasingly frustrated by people’s tendency to mutter. Perhaps you find yourself straining to concentrate and follow a conversation, or you keep turning up the volume on the TV.

Whatever practical effects your hearing loss may have, you can say with confidence that it doesn’t make life any easier. Hearing loss means it’s difficult to hear a conversation in a public place, and many people then begin to feel inhibited about accepting invitations to meals out or social functions.

No one likes the feeling of struggling to keep up with a conversation, and only hearing part of the back-and-forth can leave you feeling disadvantaged or uncomfortable. However, be aware avoidance is not a good long-term strategy because it leads to isolation, which in turn leads to loneliness and depression.

Emotional Signs of Hearing Loss

Not hearing properly can cause tangled emotions which leave you feeling frustrated, angry, depressed, or embarrassed. Hearing loss places you at a disadvantage when making that vital first impression at a business meeting or striking up a conversation with a stranger.

It can hurt your confidence, leaving you stressed or angry. If you start to feel tense at the prospect of meeting people, or perhaps find yourself maneuvering to better see a person’s mouth when they speak, you may be impacted by hearing loss.

The Medical Signs of Hearing Loss

There are certain medical conditions which are associated with an increased risk of hearing loss. If you suffer from diabetes, heart problems, thyroid disease, or medications known to damage hearing and find your mood has altered recently, it’s worth considering if you hearing is all that it should be.

Recognizing you have hearing loss is the first step to empowerment and arranging a hearing test. From there, your audiologist can suggest the best options for improving your hearing health and reverse the associated distress.