Are you worried that you or a loved one might be losing your hearing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, 11 million people across the UK are living with hearing loss.
The trouble is, in most cases, hearing loss is an invisible condition, which makes it hard to identify, with many people often overlooking those early signs.
If you are concerned about hearing loss, then here are three warning signs you should look out for.
Asking friends and family to repeat themselves
This is an obvious one, but you might not realise you’re doing it until you step back and take a moment to consider whether you’re struggling with your hearing or not.
Are you having to regularly ask loved ones to repeat themselves when you’re speaking to them? Maybe you’re asking them to speak more slowly? This is probably more likely to be the case if you’re not directly facing someone, or you’re speaking to them over the phone (as you won’t be able to read their lips). What’s more, if you’re having conversations in person, are you relying heavily on lip-reading? You might not have realised it before, but if you’re struggling to hear with your ears, you might be compensating by using your eyes.
Likewise, you might be able to hear what somebody is saying, but you might not understand it. Hearing loss can impact a person’s ability to hear different frequencies, which means that sometimes those with hearing loss struggle with certain pitches.
Missing everyday sounds
Have you stopped hearing the birds sing? Are you continuously sleeping through your alarm? Perhaps you’ve stopped noticing when your phone is ringing? Maybe you keep on missing the doorbell? All of these are familiar, everyday sounds - which we should be hearing. If you’re not, this could be an early warning sign of hearing loss.
Again, many of these sounds are at a higher pitch, which is why people who have hearing loss struggle to hear them.
You’re having to turn up the volume
Do you have to max the volume up on your television? Are you turning up your radio, as you’re struggling to hear it otherwise? If this sounds familiar, this could indicate that you’re struggling with your hearing.
Sometimes, it’s really easy to blame other people and suggests they’re speaking quietly if you’re having trouble hearing them. But there’s no excuse when it comes to the TV and radio. Have a look and see whether the volume on your devices is higher than usual.
Book a free hearing test
If you recognise any of the above, you should get in touch with Hear Pure. We offer free hearing tests in Chester & Wirral.
The thing with hearing loss is it can happen over time, so people don’t realise how much they are actually missing. What’s more, hearing loss can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and even isolation or depression. At Hear Pure, we can help you. Contact our team today.