Your hearing is precious and if you’re fortunate to have it currently, you should do everything you can to keep it in good condition. Hearing is one of those senses that we don’t appreciate enough until it’s damaged, or gets worse.
There are some clear signs that your hearing is damaged and needs addressing, whether that be taking preventative measures or seeing an audiologist. Here are five signs that your hearing is damaged.
Speech and sounds are muffled
While there are some helpful tips for living with hearing loss, it’s important to identify potential problems before they become worse.
If it sounds like speech and sounds are muffled, then this is something that you’ll want to pay closer attention to. Of course, hearing can deteriorate naturally over time but if you’ve noticed suddenly that speech and sound have become significantly more muffled than usual, then it might be best to get it seen too.
Trouble understanding conversations in noisy spaces
If you’re constantly asking someone to speak up when you’re in a noisy space, then you might want to speak to an audiologist. It can be common to mishear people, especially when in an environment that’s noisy. However, if you’re really struggling to hear, then it might imply a deeper-rooted problem for your hearing.
It can feel embarrassing to have to ask others to repeat what they’re saying. If you find loved ones and friends are pointing it out, then it might be something to get seen to.
Turning up the volume on the television or radio
Do you find yourself turning up the volume on your television or radio? These are clear signs that there are problems with your hearing.
While there can be some worries when it comes to television or radio volumes, it’s something that can be better controlled. It’s worth trying to turn down the volume when you notice yourself turning it up every so often. Perhaps aim for a certain volume level to stick to, regardless so that you can train your ears to hear better again.
Ringing in ears
Ringing in the ears is often a symptom of hearing loss. Tinnitus is something that is often associated with ringing in the ears. It’s something that is worth paying attention to as many people can have varying noises in their ears from time to time.
Some are more frequent, which might mean that you’re more likely to encounter some hearing problems further down the road. Pay attention to how frequently this ringing in the ears is occurring and make sure to speak to a health professional if needed.
Discomfort in ears
Discomfort in the ears is not an enjoyable experience and it can be debilitating, particularly if it’s severe and lasts for several days. This is an urgent sign that something is wrong with your hearing or ear health in general and might need emergency care.
These five signs are an example of potential damage to your hearing so make sure to get your hearing checked if you tick any of these boxes.
