It is estimated that over 25% of the world’s population has some form of hearing loss. This means that 1 in 4 people are affected by this issue at some point in their life. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, and either way, it can significantly impact someone’s quality of life. It may affect your social interactions, work performance, relationships with family members and friends and make you feel isolated from others who do not share your condition. There are many reasons for hearing loss as well as many symptoms. This article will take a look at some of those symptoms and ways that you can manage them!
Muffled Speech
One of the first signs of hearing loss is often muffled speech. It may sound like your loved one is speaking with their mouth full or that they are talking into a bucket. This can be incredibly frustrating because they’re trying to talk to you, but it comes across as if you’re not even listening! Muffled speech is every day in people suffering from temporary or short-term hearing loss, but it can also be a symptom of permanent damage. That is why it is essential to take all hearing loss symptoms seriously and seek professional advice to determine the cause before it worsens.
If you are suffering from muffled or ‘tiny’ speech, then there are a few things you can do to help. First, talk to the person face-to-face (or as close as you can get) and really focus on their lips. Watching them speak will help your brain pick up the sounds that it is missing, and this often helps correct muffled speech over time. You can also try turning up the volume on any TVs or radios that you may be watching. This helps convey the sound you are missing because it allows you to hear other noises in the background of whatever you are listening to.
Trouble Understanding Words
Lack of understanding when someone is talking can be frustrating, especially if you already struggle to hear them. Just try watching a movie with the volume turned down. It’s disappointing and sometimes even infuriating! Difficulty understanding words is common in people suffering from temporary or short-term hearing loss, but it can also be a symptom of permanent damage. If you are having this difficulty, seek professional advice to determine the cause if something more serious is going on.
If you have difficulty understanding words, a few things may help. First, try sitting closer to the person who is talking. This may help your brain pick up on the word that you’re struggling to hear, especially if it’s someone who speaks clearly and articulates their words well. You can also ask them to speak more slowly or enunciate their words more clearly. This will give you a better chance of picking out the comment you are having difficulty with.
Clicks Or Whistling
A common symptom of hearing loss is when the person experiences click or whistling when someone is talking. These can be very frustrating because there are seemingly no other symptoms, but you still feel like you’re not able to hear what your loved one is saying. Clicks and whistling are most commonly caused by damage to the auditory canal or the tympanic membrane. This is not permanent, and you should be able to have it repaired at a hearing clinic.
If you’re suffering from clicking or whistling when someone is talking to you, there are a few things that may help. Firstly, try speaking in a slightly lower tone. This will change the frequency of your voice, and this often helps eliminate issues with whistling or clicking caused by damage to the ear. You can also try placing a small ball of cotton wool in your ear as it is an excellent filter for noises that you don’t want to hear! If the problem continues, it may be time to buy a hearing aid or visit a hearing clinic.
Ringing Or Buzzing
Many people with hearing loss often experience ringing or buzzing in their ears when someone is talking. Suppose you find that your loved one is hearing ringing or buzzing, then you will want to try and find out why. This may be caused by damage to the eardrum, the auditory canal, or even ear wax buildup. Ringing or buzzing can often be treated at home using over-the-counter remedies such as olive oil, mineral oil, apple cider vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.
If you are suffering from ringing or buzzing when someone is talking to you, there may be a few different things that can help. If a buildup of ear wax causes it, the simplest thing to do would be to visit a hearing clinic for a quick and easy earwax removal procedure. If you find that ear wax buildup is not causing your ringing or buzzing, you may want to talk to a doctor. After all, more severe health problems may have developed, which could cause concern.
Experiencing Listening Fatigue
Experiencing listening fatigue can be a sign of hearing loss. Listening fatigue is when the person experiencing it feels tired and drained while focusing on someone talking. Avoid listening until you feel like your brain is ready to absorb another sentence. If you’re suffering from hearing fatigue, try taking a break every so often and getting your blood flowing by walking around or doing some light jogging. This will help you feel refreshed and more focused on the task at hand rather than drained.
Listening fatigue can often be caused by tinnitus, an ear infection, or even stress. It is essential to understand why you are experiencing listening fatigue to be treated accordingly. If you suffer from listening fatigue, it may be time to visit a doctor for further examination. You may also want to purchase a hearing aid if you continue experiencing this issue. This will amplify sounds and give your brain something else to focus on, which will prevent it from getting tired and drained as quickly.
Conclusion
There you have it! If you’re experiencing one or more of the typical hearing loss symptoms listed above, there are ways to deal with them. Prevention is always better than cure; if you want to keep your ears healthy and prevent any damage, then take care of them. You can do this by avoiding loud noises and wearing earplugs at loud events, using earplugs if you are exposed to loud noises daily, and asking your doctor for preventative medicine. If you want to find out more about how to manage each of the common hearing loss symptoms listed above, or if you simply need help finding treatment, be sure to ask your primary care provider.