| Hearing loss affects over 32 million people in the US | | | | because you can't hear enough to participate. This is |
| alone. Currently hearing aids are the only viable option | | | | one of the biggest tragedies of hearing loss: dropping |
| for treating hearing loss. Here are five common signs | | | | out of the conversation. Relationships are what add |
| that you might benefit from wearing hearing aids. | | | | purpose, meaning, and fulfillment to our lives. If you |
| | | | frequently bow out of a conversation or frequently |
| 1. You frequently ask people to repeat themselves. | | | | hesitate joining a conversation for fear of not know |
| This is often one of the first signs of hearing loss. | | | | what is being said, there is likely a problem. This issue is |
| Usually family members and friends will notice this | | | | elevated whenever conversations take place in noisy |
| before you will. If a spouse or friend has mentioned | | | | environments like restaurants. Most new digital hearing |
| that you say "what" a lot, you should take notice. If | | | | aids can help in noisy environments and can help make |
| more than one person mentions this, then the problems | | | | speech sounds clearer and more understandable. |
| is likely real. | | | | 5. You feel like a common noise has just stopped. |
| 2. You feel that others are constantly mumbling. A lot | | | | Many hearing patients remember a time when the |
| of hearing patients will complain that others are | | | | birds just stopped chirping, or the leaves stopped |
| mumbling all of the time or just not speaking clearly | | | | rustling in the trees. Rest assured that these noises |
| enough. It's very frustrating when you can't hear what | | | | didn't stop; you've just stopped hearing them. |
| someone is trying to say to you. If you feel like | | | | The best thing to do if you have any of these signs of |
| everyone is mumbling, then the problem is most likely | | | | hearing loss is to schedule a hearing evaluation at a |
| not with their speaking but with your hearing. | | | | local hearing clinic. These tests are typically low cost |
| 3. Others think you have the volume on you TV or | | | | and are more than worth the investment. A hearing |
| radio turned too high. This is another early sign of | | | | test performed by a trained hearing specialist or |
| hearing loss. If others in your household are always | | | | audiologist will show you the severity of your hearing |
| turning the TV down after coming in to the room or if | | | | loss and will show you how hearing aids might help. |
| others frequently asking you why you have the TV so | | | | The worst thing to do is to wait. If you have signs of |
| loud, this is a sign that you have hearing loss and might | | | | hearing loss, schedule an evaluation at a clinic in your |
| be a good candidate for a hearing device. | | | | area today. |
| 4. You frequently remove yourself from conversations | | | | |