8 Signs It Is Time to Try Hearing Aids

One of the most common consequences of aging is hearing loss.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 430 million people worldwide require rehabilitation for “disabling” hearing loss. This number is expected to nearly double to 700 million by 2050.

Despite the seriousness of hearing loss, it often goes untreated. In a survey conducted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 51% of respondents reported hearing problems, but only 11% received treatment, of which about 80% were fitted with hearing aids. Yet, sources report that it typically takes seven years from the onset of the loss before people seek treatment.

There are many reasons for this delay:

• Denial – Hearing loss often occurs gradually, so many don’t admit to hearing loss until it becomes unmanageable.
• Stigma – Hearing loss is frequently associated with the unpleasant aspects of aging, like physical decline and loss of independence.
• Cost – Medicare currently doesn’t cover hearing aids, so many view this treatment as unaffordable.
• Lack of Knowledge – Hearing loss is more than an annoyance. Many don’t know that it can also contribute to depression, anxiety, social isolation, and dementia, as well as falls and other accidental injuries.

Are you wondering if you’re experiencing hearing loss? Let’s look at eight signs that it might be time to seek treatment.

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Signs It May Be Time to Seek Treatment

You Ask People to Repeat Themselves

It’s normal to occasionally ask people to repeat themselves if we have not heard something distinctly. But if you ask others frequently to repeat their words or raise their volume, you may be suffering from hearing loss. With a small degree of loss, you may still be able to understand most of what people are saying, but voices will seem a bit muffled. This can trick you into thinking your hearing is okay, but everyone else is speaking too quietly.

You Feel Frustrated and Antisocial

It’s inevitable that those who have hearing difficulties feel isolated and frustrated because they can't easily understand what others around them are saying. This is especially true in group situations, such as in restaurants or other typically noisy places. As a result, it can be all too tempting to sink into the background and stop participating.

Unfortunately, withdrawing from social situations due to hearing loss is possibly the most challenging symptom to recognize. Perhaps you try to rationalize the situation by telling yourself you’re tired or feeling distracted. If a friend or family member tells you that they miss your contribution to the discussion, pay attention. You may not even be aware that hearing problems are affecting your normal behavior.

You Don’t Like Talking Over the Phone

Having trouble hearing on the phone while conversing with a loved one, friend, or coworker is stressful. You might sense that the phone is too quiet, frequently ask the other person to repeat themselves, or find that it’s hard to converse without seeing the other person’s mouth move. Any of these could indicate a hearing deficit.

You Have a Perpetual Ringing in the Ears

Tinnitus, the persistent ringing in the ears, is a common condition. This condition can even affect sleep, job performance, and overall enjoyment of life. Suicide has even resulted in extreme cases where victims experienced prolonged or severe suffering.

Others Complain That Your TV Is Too Loud

Suppose you’re watching a game on TV or binge-watching your favorite show, but you can’t clearly understand the words being spoken. Yet, when you then turn up the volume to compensate, others around you get irritated by the excessive noise. Another tip-off is if you routinely need to turn on subtitles or closed captioning to understand what’s being said.

You Rely on Visual Cues

Those with hearing loss often rely on lip movement, facial expressions, and body language as context clues to help them understand what someone is saying. This can begin subtly, so that we scarcely realize when it becomes habitual, developing into an unconscious crutch that reinforces our denial of a hearing issue.

You Can’t Tell Where Sounds Are Coming From

Knowing the origin of a sound is essential for everyday living. Suppose you misplaced your mobile phone and asked someone to call you to locate it by the ringtone. Because each ear hears a sound at a slightly different time, our brains automatically triangulate to give us a precise picture of the sound’s origin. However, if one or both ears aren’t accurately picking up the sound, our brain can’t easily locate the source.

Frequently Avoiding Noisy Situations

Many everyday activities, from driving to watching a movie, occur in the presence of ambient noise. If you miss out on regular discussions because background noise is too loud or people’s voices seem too soft, it could be a classic sign that your hearing might be compromised.

When to Seek Help

Many people live with changes in their hearing for years before they ever talk to someone about it. The shift happens so gradually that it’s easy to adjust without realizing how much has changed. Conversations take more effort and everyday sounds fade into the background of daily life.

If any of this feels familiar, it’s worth getting your hearing checked. Support and treatment are widely available, and addressing the issue sooner can make a real difference in how you experience the world around you. Hearing well helps you stay connected to people, places, and moments that are easy to miss when sound starts slipping away.

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