It’s so frustrating! Why don’t people just slow down and talk more clearly? What on earth are they saying?
If you ever feel this way during conversations, you’re not alone. The truth is, not understanding speech is a common sign of hearing loss – one of the world’s most common health problems. In fact, most people experience some degree of hearing loss in their lifetime.
Because hearing loss is usually a gradual process, it often goes unnoticed or ignored. You may attribute your difficulty in hearing to other factors. Or, maybe you don’t even notice your hearing loss, but others around you do.
If you’re not sure, the following questions can help:
- Are the “sh”, “th” and “f” sounds more difficult to hear?
- Do you often ask others to repeat themselves?
- Do you turn up the TV or radio louder than others prefer?
- Is it particularly difficult to understand conversation when there is background noise?
- Does it seem as though others are mumbling when they speak to you?
- Do you have difficulty following group conversations?
- Do you find it difficult to identify from which direction sounds are coming?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a hearing loss. But don’t worry, there is plenty of help. Today’s digital technology is providing advanced hearing aid options that offer great sound quality, reduce background noise and can be customized to meet your specific needs.
At EarMaster we can help you determine if you have a hearing loss and provide the choices you have for treating it. For more information about the signs of hearing loss, call us at 580-436-3277.