Perhaps You’re Grumpy Because of Hearing Loss

You aren’t really sure why, but you’ve been feeling cranky lately. Well, you did feel excluded earlier this morning when no one took the time to pull you into the meeting discussion at the office and that was irritating. Your daughter got up and abruptly left the house after becoming frustrated when you kept asking her to turn the TV volume up. What’s the deal with that?

Maybe the real problem is hearing loss!

As you get older hearing loss can take you by surprise and over 40 million individuals in the US suffer with it. And, the issue doesn’t end at your ears, either. Even slight hearing loss puts you at risk of depression, memory problems, and even cognitive decline, according to some research. What you may think is merely a sign of age, may actually be a treatable medical problem. Perhaps, your co-workers didn’t leave you out of the conversation after all, maybe you missed critical conversational queues because you didn’t hear them. Honestly, it can be exceedingly aggravating when you can’t hear during your day-to-day life.

Learn more about hearing loss

A good place to begin is learning more about what you’re coping with. Hearing loss does happen to lots of individuals as a result of the aging process. But years of exposure to overly loud sound can also be the cause for others. Noise-related hearing loss can be caused by lots of noise sources, like mowing the lawn and leaf blowing, listening to loud music, and driving in heavy traffic with the window down. The world is full of potentially ear-damaging sound that can deteriorate the delicate mechanisms that help you hear.

Chronic diseases that become more common with age are a potential factor as well. When you have disorders that cause problems with your blood pressure, your inner ear can become damaged.

Recognize the signs

People usually don’t detect when their hearing starts to go because hearing is often taken for granted:

• Struggling to comprehend words when there is background noise like a fan or the AC
• You always feel like you are being left out of the conversations
• You regularly say “what” and often need people to repeat what they said

Obviously, you’d be grumpy if you’ve been dealing with any of these signs! Feeling detached from your world can trigger depression and even social isolation.

Managing hearing loss

One of the very first things you can do is ask friends and family members if they have noticed you having a difficult time hearing. It may seem like a challenging talk but it’s a really worthwhile one. If if they answer ‘yes’ then scheduling a hearing assessment should be your next move and will clarify things for you. Try to get a loved one to accompany you to your exam. A supportive, calming presence can be most helpful.

Your hearing test will both gauge whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and how significant it has become. If hearing loss is identified, we will recommend the next course of action for you based on the results of the exam. In most instances, that will entail getting hearing aids. You’ll certainly be able to get a pair of hearing aids that will best fit your situation since there are so many styles and options to choose from.

Picking out quality hearing aids

We’ll have recommendations that will be best suited for your distinct type of hearing loss. You will probably need to evaluate several brands and models before you find the best fit for your particular taste and hearing needs. Hearing aids don’t simply amplify sound nowadays. They can block out background noises, connect to smartphones and computers, and even determine the direction that sound is coming from. Do some research to find out which brands and models have the features that will best fit your lifestyle and requirements.

Also, remember to consider styles. They come in various snazzy colors or with no color at all, so they’re nearly invisible.

If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, schedule an appointment with our qualified hearing specialists today. It’s time to get out of that grumpy mindset and we can help!