09/07/2021
Most hearing loss is gradual. But if you rapidly go deaf in one ear, either suddenly or over a few days, call your audiologist.
Ringing or other sounds in your ears, such as roaring, clicking, buzzing or hissing, is called tinnitus. Tinnitus can be a symptom of many different conditions, including ear infections, heart disease, and thyroid problems, but one of its chief causes is noise-induced hearing loss.
If you’ve noticed you’re becoming clumsier than in the past, are experiencing vertigo symptoms such as dizziness, or are having difficulty with your ability to balance, the cause might be your ears. Hearing and balance are linked to mechanisms within the inner ear.
When you’re trying to make conversation within a group of people, especially in a louder locale such as a restaurant or party, you may notice you have a lot more trouble grasping what people are saying. This common problem is sometimes referred to as hidden hearing loss because it’s not always detected in standard hearing tests but can be a precursor to traditional hearing loss.
One sign of hearing loss is hearing other sounds more acutely, even to the point of pain. As your hearing diminishes overall, you may become more sensitive in one or both ears to certain, specific sounds, a symptom called hyperacusis.
Do you increasingly find yourself boosting the TV volume higher than others in your household find necessary? These are indicators your hearing has suffered.
One early hearing loss sign is “listening fatigue.” You may find yourself getting extra tired after a day spent listening to customers or a night trying to field dinner-party banter—so much so that you start avoiding conversing in groups.
Getting appointment times mixed up? Picking up the wrong item for your spouse at the grocery store? Sometimes what appears to be forgetfulness can be due to hearing loss causing you not to catch critical information.