Are you worried that you might be suffering from hearing loss? It can be a scary prospect, as many people don’t know what to look out for when it comes to hearing-related problems. However, there are certain signs and symptoms of hearing decline that everyone should be aware of to protect their auditory health.
At Toronto Hearing Consultants, we specialize in providing the best diagnostic and treatment solutions for most degrees of hearing loss. Today, we’ll cover five common indicators that could signify a gradual decrease in your sense of sound. If you suspect that something isn’t quite right with your ears, read on!
What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is a general term that refers to an individual’s hearing ability decreasing. However, hearing loss can come in many different forms and may even be reversible in some cases.
The most common cause of hearing loss is aging. As people get older, the tiny hairs in their inner ear (which are a key part of an individual’s ability to hear) deteriorate and stop functioning effectively. Another major cause of hearing loss is working in noisy environments such as construction sites or the military. Over time, exposure to loud noises can damage the inner ear and make it less efficient at transmitting sound. Finally, excessive earwax buildup can act like an earplug and make sounds harder to hear. Fortunately, earwax can be cleaned and removed to reverse the hearing loss.
If you’re worried that you may be experiencing hearing loss, here are five common signs of hearing loss you should look out for. If you find yourself experiencing several of the symptoms on this list, it may be time to see an audiologist in Toronto about your hearing – especially if you are in an older demographic.
5 Common Signs of Hearing Loss
1) Ringing or Buzzing in Your Ears (Tinnitus)
Tinnitus means hearing noises that aren’t present in your environment. Tinnitus most commonly presents itself as a ringing or buzzing sound. Tinnitus is often caused by age or occupation-related hearing loss, but it can present itself in people of all ages, health statuses, and occupations.
2) Asking People to Repeat Themselves Often
Do you ask your friends, family, or coworkers to repeat themselves often? Asking people to repeat themselves typically isn’t a problem if it’s just with one person (they may be quiet or unclear speakers). But, if you ask various people to repeat themselves regardless of location and environmental noise, you may be experiencing hearing loss. Difficulty hearing in background noise is one of the first signs of hearing loss.
3) Watching TV or Listening to Music Too Loud
If your family members and friends often comment on how loud you listen to the TV or your music, you may be experiencing hearing loss. Losing one’s hearing is a gradual process that occurs over a long period. As such, hearing loss isn’t always noticeable to the person experiencing it. Unnoticed hearing loss often manifests itself when a person gradually listens to media at an increasingly louder volume over time. If you find yourself often increasing the volume of your television or radio, it may be time to get your hearing checked.
4) Difficulty Hearing High-Pitched Noises
One of the most common signs of hearing loss is losing the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. As an individual loses their hearing, the tiny hair cells in their ears become damaged and desensitized to high-pitched noises. Although it can be difficult to know if you’re losing your high-pitched hearing, being in situations where everyone but you can hear a certain sound may be an indication that you have difficulty hearing high-pitched noises.
5) Difficulty Locating the Direction of Sounds
With healthy hearing, people have something called “stereo hearing.” In other words, we can determine the direction of a sound just by hearing it. Stereo hearing comes from the ability of both ears to hear a sound and relay the relative intensity of it to our brains. If one ear loses its sensitivity to sound, it cannot relay the appropriate information to the brain, and an individual loses their ability to hear in stereo.
If you often find yourself looking around to determine the directions of sounds, one or both of your ears may be suffering from hearing loss, and you should seek professional guidance.
Conclusion: Hearing Loss Treatment in Toronto
From being unable to communicate clearly with loved ones to not enjoying your favourite music, experiencing hearing loss can create significant anxiety and discomfort. Fortunately, modern hearing aids are discreet and comfortable, and can return your crystal clear hearing!
If you live in Toronto, Toronto Hearing Consultants is your one-stop shop for all of your hearing needs. From hearing tests to hearing aid fitting and setup, our professionals do it all. Click the Get in Touch button at the top of this page to book your consultation today!
