Excuse Me? Can You Repeat That? - Signs of Possible Hearing Loss

If you attended one too many concerts in your lifetime, cranked your stereo too loud, or burrowed a Q-Tip deep within your ear canal because it felt ohhh so good (despite said Q-Tip not being bigger than an elbow), then there's a good chance you ruptured an ear drum in the process, or possibly both of them. The bad news, you may now be suffering from hearing loss.

Age Is Just a Number

While most of us might envision a grandparent-type saying, "Speak up Sonny, I can't hear you," the truth of the matter is that hearing loss does not discriminate when it comes to age. And, while hearing loss is a natural part of the aging process, there are external forces like those cited above, that can indeed assist with auditory deterioration at any stage of your life.

Crank It Up!

Do you find yourself turning up the TV or radio louder than those around you? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, that is merely one sign of possible hearing loss. Others signs include:

• People say you're SHOUTING at them when you think you're simply talking to them.
• You often ask people to repeat themselves because you can't hear or understand them, especially in groups or places where there is a lot of background noise.
• You hear better out of one ear than the other.
• You cannot hear a dripping faucet or the high note of a violin.

Hearing Loss Can Be Isolating

When one loses their hearing, they can feel as if they're losing touch with humanity. An isolating experience, it is typically a distressing experience for those going through it and those closest to them. So, if any of the warning signs above "sound familiar" to you, it could be more than just wax build up and you may want to consider:

• Scheduling an appointment with your physician, or Ear, Nose & Throat doctor to rule out any medical condition.
• See an Audiologist to schedule a Hearing Exam.
• Visit HearingLoss.org for more information.