One of the reasons why hearing loss is such a big problem is that it develops gradually. In fact, it often happens so slowly that most people are unaware that they are losing their hearing until it starts to seriously affect their lives. If you want to protect yourself from hearing loss, look for some of these signs. Some of these may be subtle, but you should pay attention to them and seek out a hearing care specialist if you begin to notice them.

You Have Trouble Hearing Consonant Sounds

People who lose their hearing as they age might first lose the ability to hear high-frequency sounds clearly. For speech, that translates to being unable to hear consonant sounds such as S, F, V, Th, K, and P. If you have trouble distinguishing these sounds when someone is speaking to you, you may be beginning to lose your hearing.

You Have Trouble Understanding People in Crowded Places

While you are struggling to hear consonant sounds during conversations, you might also have trouble understanding people in crowded spaces. It’s never easy to hold a conversation when you’re surrounded by noisy people, but you should consider speaking to a hearing care specialist if anything that someone says to you in a crowd is lost to background noise.

You Stop Noticing Common Sounds

We are rarely in places that are completely silent. You should still hear crickets chirping on a quiet night or birds singing during a calm afternoon. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re losing your hearing, take the time to listen to these kinds of common sounds. If you find that you cannot hear them anymore, you might be starting to lose your hearing.

You’re Exhausted

Believe it or not, straining to hear conversations can be exhausting, and many people who are hard of hearing suffer from listener’s fatigue. Listening is a brain activity, one that can leave you feeling surprisingly tired if you have to devote more energy than usual to it. Your exhaustion might not be entirely tied to your hearing, but it is something to consider if you’ve noticed the other signs on this list.

As with any other health condition, you should do your best to treat hearing loss while it is still a relatively minor issue. If you’ve noticed these signs and you believe that you are starting to lose your hearing, don’t hesitate to give us a call or submit an online form. We will be happy to discuss your options and answer any questions that you might have.