Hearing Word on White Keyboard by icetrayimages794410 via Vecteezy
These Early Signs of Hearing Loss Deserve Your Attention
by Evita C Dendy, CCC-SLP
Your hearing really does aid you. Not only is it one of our most used senses; hearing is also the very last sense to leave us. Hearing can be compared to a lovely rug found in a charming home. Typically, the rug is used daily, it’s walked on, and it welcomes many guests over its lifetime. As years progress and guests continue to walk on said rug- the fabric fibers on the rug start to wear and thin. This doesn’t mean that it's no longer useful, rather it needs a little boost to continue to greet and welcome its many guests. Our ears have similar fabric fibers. Each ear contains thousands of hair cells. These hair cells help to gather, shape, and transmit sound signals to the auditory nerve in our brains. This starts the process of what we know as “hearing.”
The issue with these hair cells-is that we are born with all of the hair cells that we will ever have. They can not be replaced nor recycled. Similarly, each time we use our hearing-it’s like walking on the previously mentioned lovely house rug. Our hearing hair cells get thinner with each transmitted sound. Fireworks, music, voices, airplanes, and environmental noises related to military assignments. All of these environmental sounds act as the methodological footprint on our hearing cells. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people have a degree of hearing loss and hearing issues are the most prevalent service-connected disability among veterans.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss as well as advice on how to conquer this issue:
1. Talking on the phone takes more effort
When we speak on the phone, we no longer have facial cues and/or mouth movements to assist us in understanding what we are hearing. We may find ourselves feeling uneasy and a tad stressed because we can’t quite keep up with the conversation.
2. Asking people to repeat themselves during conversations when tolerable background noise is present
Having social conversations during dinners out is a part of most of our lives. Joining together around the dinner table is often viewed as an expression of love. Unfortunately, these are not the quietest events to take place. It's worth making a mental note if you find yourself leaning in to hear and/ or asking for repetitions during the meal.
3. Turning the TV/radio volume up higher than what would be considered standard When watching TV, the sounds from the actors may sound muffled and not entirely clear. You may misinterpret the dialogue that is being discussed during the show. This can be caused when the air conditioner is humming too loud in your home or when the background music on the TV show is played- it can cause people to not hear or understand what is going on during the show. To remedy this, some people experiencing a degree of hearing loss may opt to turn the TV up rather loudly.
Hearing health is a journey that most of us will experience. If you find yourself experiencing any of these signs- you owe it to yourself to have your hearing checked by a licensed professional. Remember, you are not alone in this.
Your hearing hasn’t failed you-let it continue to aid you!
Resources:
“Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Devices”, Hearing Loss Association of America, https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/otc-hearing-devices/
Medicare Benefits. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hearing-aids
“Hearing Aid Information” Texas Health & Human Services Commission, https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/deaf-hard-hearing/hearing-aid-information
by Evita C Dendy, CCC-SLP
Your hearing really does aid you. Not only is it one of our most used senses; hearing is also the very last sense to leave us. Hearing can be compared to a lovely rug found in a charming home. Typically, the rug is used daily, it’s walked on, and it welcomes many guests over its lifetime. As years progress and guests continue to walk on said rug- the fabric fibers on the rug start to wear and thin. This doesn’t mean that it's no longer useful, rather it needs a little boost to continue to greet and welcome its many guests. Our ears have similar fabric fibers. Each ear contains thousands of hair cells. These hair cells help to gather, shape, and transmit sound signals to the auditory nerve in our brains. This starts the process of what we know as “hearing.”
The issue with these hair cells-is that we are born with all of the hair cells that we will ever have. They can not be replaced nor recycled. Similarly, each time we use our hearing-it’s like walking on the previously mentioned lovely house rug. Our hearing hair cells get thinner with each transmitted sound. Fireworks, music, voices, airplanes, and environmental noises related to military assignments. All of these environmental sounds act as the methodological footprint on our hearing cells. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people have a degree of hearing loss and hearing issues are the most prevalent service-connected disability among veterans.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss as well as advice on how to conquer this issue:
1. Talking on the phone takes more effort
When we speak on the phone, we no longer have facial cues and/or mouth movements to assist us in understanding what we are hearing. We may find ourselves feeling uneasy and a tad stressed because we can’t quite keep up with the conversation.
2. Asking people to repeat themselves during conversations when tolerable background noise is present
Having social conversations during dinners out is a part of most of our lives. Joining together around the dinner table is often viewed as an expression of love. Unfortunately, these are not the quietest events to take place. It's worth making a mental note if you find yourself leaning in to hear and/ or asking for repetitions during the meal.
3. Turning the TV/radio volume up higher than what would be considered standard When watching TV, the sounds from the actors may sound muffled and not entirely clear. You may misinterpret the dialogue that is being discussed during the show. This can be caused when the air conditioner is humming too loud in your home or when the background music on the TV show is played- it can cause people to not hear or understand what is going on during the show. To remedy this, some people experiencing a degree of hearing loss may opt to turn the TV up rather loudly.
Hearing health is a journey that most of us will experience. If you find yourself experiencing any of these signs- you owe it to yourself to have your hearing checked by a licensed professional. Remember, you are not alone in this.
Your hearing hasn’t failed you-let it continue to aid you!
Resources:
“Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Devices”, Hearing Loss Association of America, https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/otc-hearing-devices/
Medicare Benefits. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hearing-aids
“Hearing Aid Information” Texas Health & Human Services Commission, https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/deaf-hard-hearing/hearing-aid-information
To become a member and receive our services, please apply on our Liberty Medical Center of Texas Form and learn more about how we can help you today.
