How Hearing Loss Can Sneak Up on You

One of the things that you should know about hearing loss is that it doesn’t just emerge out of nowhere one day. It’s a condition that might have been a long time in the making before you noticed any of the symptoms that are generally associated with it.

We’re going to talk today about how hearing loss can sneak up on you and what exactly that means. If you’re concerned about your hearing and you think you need treatment, it would also be a good idea to speak to a hearing instrument specialist about this.

Hearing Loss Is More Common Over 65

For many people, hearing loss is something that doesn’t just arrive, and it probably won’t be noticed before the age of 65 unless related to another condition or noise-induced hearing loss. It’s far more common in people over the age of 65; there’s no doubt about that. And that’s not necessarily the age at which it will arrive, but the process of hearing decline will start to speed up around that age and you’ll start to notice changes gradually over time. That’s the buildup of many years’ worth of deterioration and decline.

But It Can Impact People of All Ages

It’s something that can impact people of all sorts of ages, although it’s most commonly experienced by people over the age of 65. It’s a sign of the aging process, but there are also other potential causes of hearing loss. For some people, it’ll be caused by exposure to a loud noise or continued exposure to loud noises without the use of ear protection. People who have a hereditary disposition to hearing loss might also experience it at a young age, as well as people for whom hearing loss is caused using a particular medication.

It Tends to Progress Gradually

Hearing loss is a condition that tends to occur gradually over time. It usually won’t be noticeable overnight; instead, the problem compounds over time until the symptoms become more and more noticeable for the person experiencing them. To begin with, you might not notice much of a change at all, and at this stage it’s very easy to write off the problem as nothing at all to worry about, but that’s not necessarily the case. Even small changes should be investigated as they might help to prevent or slow further deterioration in your hearing levels.

This Makes It Harder to Detect the Symptoms

When the onset of hearing loss is so slow, people might not notice their symptoms at all. Therefore, we talk about hearing loss as being something that feels as if it’s creeping up on you slowly over time. The symptoms are usually harder to detect because the changes might be so minimal. So even people who are experiencing the symptoms of hearing loss might not notice that they are. That makes dealing with the issue even more challenging.

Those Around You Might Notice the Change Before You Do

One interesting thing about hearing loss and its symptoms is that they’re often noticed by people around the individual experiencing them before the individual themselves notices. After all, if you’re not hearing things that you heard previously, it’s easy for those sounds to just pass you by as if they never happened. But from the point of view of a family member who’s constantly having to repeat themselves in a way that they never had to in the past, it becomes a lot more noticeable, a lot quicker.

Hearing Loss Can Be Addressed Once Identified Though

Hearing loss is a condition that can be treated, and the symptoms can be addressed. That’s something that’s important to make clear because some people simply accept their situation without actually seeing a professional and getting help with what they’re experiencing. Hearing loss can only be treated once it’s been diagnosed though. And that’s why it’s so important to seek help if you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with hearing loss. Ignoring them won’t help to solve anything.

If you have any concerns about your hearing or want to find out more about the treatments and hearing instruments out there, contact us here at New Hartford Hearing Center at the soonest opportunity. We’ll help you find out what you’re looking for and book a time for you to visit if you like as well. Call us today at 315-801-2991.