From time to time, we can all feel our senses dull a little. Having a cold at this time of year can mean that you can’t smell or taste as you might normally, and aging can cause issues with reactions and touch, for example. Hearing, or loss of hearing is another thing that can occur as we get older, but can also happen at other times in our life. If you think that you are starting with some of the symptoms of hearing loss, or have recently been given a hearing loss diagnosis, then this guide can help you to understand a little more about hearing loss and a little more about what to expect as time goes on.

What is hearing loss?

To take it right back to basics, hearing loss is referring to someone’s inability to be able to hear, which could be temporary or permanent, with full loss of hearing gone, or a partial loss. Hearing loss can also be described as being deaf or even hard of hearing, which is a term that you might have heard before, as well as being hearing impaired. The different types of hearing loss will depend on how the loss occurs and how severe it is.

It is important to remember that you are not alone in this; there are millions of people all around the world with some kind of hearing loss, with millions of other people who are completely deaf. Some people, which is more common, is to lose hearing as they get older, but there are some people that are born with hearing loss. It is good to remember that there are some hearing loss treatments that are available, as well as hearing healthcare providers that can help with hearing aids.

Symptoms of hearing loss

If you have had trouble hearing what some other people have been saying or have noticed someone in your family has had trouble, then here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

Finding that you have to ask people to keep repeating what they have said, or if you feel as though you can’t hear what people are saying
The need to turn up the music or the TV to a louder volume that you have been used to before
You might find you’re unable to hear the phone ringing, the doorbell going, or an alarm blaring
Finding it hard to tell where or from which direction a sound is coming from
Feeling that you have to concentrate a lot more on people and sounds
Other symptoms can be things like dizziness and feeling imbalanced

With children, it can be something that is a little trickier to diagnose, but there are some things to look out for. If you have a child under the age of eighteen months, for example, then they should react in a certain way when they hear their name. They should also be saying some simple words by this point as well. If they aren’t, then it could be a sign that they can’t hear it being said around them. So definitely seek some medical advice if you or someone you know has spotted these symptoms or feels this way.

Help with hearing loss

If you have been given the diagnosis of hearing loss, or someone around you has, then knowing how it will impact your everyday life is important. A lot of things won’t change, but there are some things that can be made easier with particular treatments. The first form of treatment will typically include hearing aids, which can address hearing loss, connect to compatible technology and be equipped with features that combat tinnitus. There are also things like getting a phone that has amplified volume and sound controls. It could also work well to use something that has video, if you find it easier to lip read, rather than just hear sounds. These are available for home phones as well as cell phones, so there should be plenty of options for you. For hearing someone at the door, have you thought about using a light that flashes, rather than a doorbell, for example?

Hopefully, this quick guide has been of help so that you can understand hearing loss a little more. There are many other resources and guides online, as well as organizations and associations that can help you and provide more information with the help of your hearing care provider.