Most of our patients don’t understand how slowly hearing loss progresses. We commonly hear from 40-50-year-olds that they are “not old enough” to have treatable  hearing loss. However, hearing loss can happen to anyone, and it rarely happens all at  once over a week or month. In fact, most types of hearing loss progress so slowly over  the years that it is undetectable. 

If you suspect that you or someone you know may have hearing loss, pay attention to  the complaints you or they make. Below are the five most common complaints spoken  by people with untreated hearing loss not caused by an injury and what to do about it. 

1. “I can hear, but I can’t understand you because you’re mumbling!” This  complaint is probably the most common one we hear. Most times, the perception  of mumbling is caused by high-frequency hearing loss, the most common type of  hearing loss. Someone with high-frequency hearing loss will have no difficulty  hearing low-frequency vowel sounds, but they will struggle to hear (or entirely  miss) high-frequency consonants and blends such as “f,” “h,” and “sh.” 

2. “I can hear men fine. I just can’t hear women.” Once again, this complaint can  indicate untreated high-frequency hearing loss. Women and children’s voices are  typically high frequency and will become challenging to hear for someone with  this type of hearing loss. Fortunately, hearing aids are designed to amplify only  the frequencies you need. Audiologists can program hearing aids to fit your  specific type of hearing loss. They can choose to amplify lower or higher  frequencies until your hearing is perfected. If your hearing loss changes over  time, programmable hearing aids can be adjusted to continue serving their  purpose. 

3. “It’s too loud in this restaurant. I can’t hear anything!” Struggling to hear in  background noise could indicate a moderate hearing loss or auditory processing  disorder (APD). This is something we definitely counsel our patient’s about daily.  It can even be a problem for those who wear hearing aids. The reason is that low frequency background noise covers up those important high-frequency constant  sounds! 

4. “What did you say? Huh? Say that again.” Perhaps the most noticeable and  identifiable comment from people with hearing loss is the request for repetition.  Many times, they heard what was said—meaning that sound entered their ears, and their brains registered it as sound—but their brains didn’t understand what  those sounds represented. Hearing testing is critical to discover what type of  hearing loss is causing this loss of information.

5. “Thanks for the invite, but I’m going to stay home.” People with hearing loss  tend to withdraw from social situations, purposely isolating themselves to avoid  embarrassing situations caused by their inability to hear properly. Those who are  socially isolated, especially with hearing loss, increase their risk of cognitive  decline, anxiety, and depression. A study performed by Lin MY, Gutierrez PR,  Stone KL, and others found that individuals with hearing loss developed between  30% and 40% acceleration of cognitive decline and 24% increased risk for  incident cognitive impairment during a six-year period compared to those with  normal hearing. An audiologist can offer suggestions to avoid a loss of brain  function and a return to normal, happy, social living. 

Do any of these complaints sound familiar or even convicting? Hearing loss isn’t always  a sudden change that you immediately notice. Most often, it’s a slow progression that  leaves you irritable, exhausted, or depressed. Our patients always tell us they wish they  wouldn’t have allowed hearing loss to dictate their life for as long as it did. Don’t allow  your hearing loss to dictate YOUR socialization habits. Reach out today at 480-831-6159  and allow us to help you identify and treat your specific type of hearing loss quickly and  comfortably. 

At The Tinnitus and Hearing Center of Arizona we are committed to helping you stay  active and engaged with the world around you! Complaints point to the root of the  problem; fortunately, we have a solution. Contact us today.

Sources: 

“The Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Hearing Loss, Part 1.” Practical  Neurology, Bryn Mawr Communications,  

https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2017-oct/the-cognitive-and-behavioral consequences-of-hearing-loss-part-1.