Hearing loss is more common than you might think. It is often a gradual process that occurs alongside aging, although it can also be the result of physical trauma, exposure to loud noises, medications, and other conditions.
Hearing loss occurs in 43% of all Canadian men and 32% of all Canadian women between the ages of 20 and 79. Hearing loss also becomes more common as you age. As much as 94% of Canadians between the ages of 70 and 79 experience some form of hearing loss or tinnitus. While less common, 9% of Canadians between the ages of 20 and 39 experience audiometrically-measured hearing loss.
Identifying hearing loss can be transformative. Once you get your hearing tested, you can talk to your audiologist about your options, including getting a hearing aid. Audiology clinics like Toronto Hearing Consultants will walk you through all of the devices that would fit your needs, as well as fitting and programming the hearing aid fitting to customize the device to your ear and hearing loss.
If you notice any of these signs in your everyday life, it may be time to get your hearing tested.
#1 You feel frustrated talking to family members because you can’t hear them.
Do you ever feel like you can’t hear your family members when you’re talking in your home? Sometimes it can be because they’re talking to you from another room, or the issue can be that someone has the TV or music playing, and it’s a struggle to pay attention.
The problem may not be the environment or the volume at which your family speaks. Getting a hearing aid can make life at home much less frustrating.
#2 You have difficulty hearing at work.
It can be much harder to control the environment at work, and hearing loss can be a major impediment to your performance and ability to communicate in a professional environment. Whether you struggle to hear your colleagues in a busy office environment or you have to ask customers to repeat themselves, hearing loss at work can be a major problem.
A noisy workplace can even be a source of hearing loss. Regular exposure to loud noises can lead to a deterioration in your hearing.
#3 You have trouble hearing movies, TV, or music.
Not being able to hear media can deeply affect how we enjoy our off-hours. When it comes to TV, there are options such as turning on subtitles, but for things like movies in the theatre or listening to music, there is no substitute for a hearing aid if you have hearing loss. There are also hearing aid options that will work for professionals who rely on their sense of hearing.
One important sign that you might have hearing loss is turning up the TV louder than anyone else in your family. If they can hear the television just fine, but you’re still struggling, you may want a hearing test.
#4 You’re getting older.
Unlike many other conditions, hearing loss is sometimes just a function of age. Once you reach the age of 60, it can help to get a baseline hearing test, even if you haven’t noticed any of the above issues.
A hearing aid can help with hearing loss, but you have to identify it first. If you experience any of these signs, a hearing test may be the first step in improving things.