Hearing Center: Questions That Can Determine If You May Have a Problem

It is one of the most common misconceptions about auditory loss that any hearing center will hear in a typical day. "I'm too young to have this happen!" But studies are showing that more young people than ever before are experiencing auditory loss that has little to do with aging and everything to do with environment. Between loud music, loud working conditions, and even loud driving, people are subjecting to their ears to noise levels that would have been unthinkable a hundred years ago. The really sinister thing is that many people don't even realize there is a problem until it is blindingly obvious. Here are some questions you should ask yourself to determine if you might be experiencing loss. Do people comment on how loud you're playing your entertainment? This is a common telltale sign of auditory loss for people of all ages. It should be recognized, of course, that many people simply prefer to keep their entertainment loud. They crank the stereo, they fit their homes with wall-rattling speakers for the television, and so forth. If you know the entertainment you enjoy is "too loud", that's one thing. Of course, you could be contributing to your own future impairment, but it isn't necessarily a sign that damage has already occurred. If, however, what seems like a "normal" volume to you is "too loud" to others, you may want to visit a hearing center just in case. Do you constantly have to say, "Excuse me?" or "What?" when having conversations? It can be terribly frustrating to hold even basic conversations when you're suffering from auditory loss. Frequently needing to ask for people to repeat themselves could be a sign that you have an impairment and should look for treatment and assistance at a hearing center. For certain forms of auditory loss, the ability to distinguish and understand speech is one of the first things to go. You may not think you have a problem because the volume of the speech remains the same, but muffled volume isn't the only sign of impairment. Are you often exposed to loud volumes? Some of the highest risk factors for auditory loss are those who work in high volume jobs. Whether you play in a rock band, work security at the local arena, or work construction, you could be consistently exposing your ears to damaging decibel levels. It could be doing more damage than you think. For peace of mind, visit a hearing center to not only get your ears checked, but get some advice on things you can do to protect yourself.