Do you suspect hearing loss? - By: Dr. Cynthia Heise

You aren’t alone

Millions of people in the U.S. are suffering from some form of hearing loss, but so many have done nothing about it! While hearing impairment is a very common issue, many simply do not understand their options and thus do nothing to help themselves. While many may know that they do not hear as well as they used to, they still wait until the issue becomes severe before seeking help. Unfortunately, the longer without a solution, the worse the situation becomes…stressing the individual, their family, and hurting their communication ability further.

Hard to tell

Perhaps you lost your hearing so slowly that you did not realize at first. Family and friends tend to be the first to notice your issues with communicating. They may note that you “aren’t listening” or “blame others for your problem”. While you may feel aggravated by their accusations, take them to heart. Why would they be saying that? Maybe you have noticed that others always seem to mumble , speak unclearly, or too softly. Perhaps you have noticed that you have to lean into the conversation, ask for repetition, or follow mouth movements to fully understand. All of these may be symptoms of an underlying hearing impairment.

Do not wait

Once you realize that you have some or all of these symptoms, do not wait to seek evaluation and treatment! A treatable medical issue may be to blame. Sometimes medication or surgery may be necessary to clear any outer ear or middle ear concerns. If your hearing loss is due to damage of the inner ear, waiting on amplification may be severely damaging to your ability to comprehend speech. As the old saying goes, “if you don’t use it, you lose it”. The longer your brain goes without the sound input, the more it will “ignore” those signals when they are returned with hearing aid amplification. Although the sound is made loud enough for you to hear, it may still not be clear.

Your situation

If you have waited, do not be afraid to seek help. While your hearing will never be restored to normal, your listening experience can certainly be improved! The sooner, the better! If you are not sure whether you have a hearing impairment, consider these signs:
-You hear people speaking, but you cannot understand what they are saying
-Everyone seems to mumble and talk too softly
-Others complain about how loud your television or radio is set
-Others complain that you do not listen
-You have to ask for frequent repetition
-Hearing in noisy places becomes very difficult
-You have to look at mouth movements to help in understanding
-You avoid going out as often as you previously did, because of misunderstandings, stress, and difficulties related to your hearing

Call today!

If any of these scenarios fit you, call us today! Seek help from a caring hearing health professional who can guide you through this process from evaluation to treatment. Learn about your options. We are here to help! Let us help you hear better. Call us about your hearing loss today!

About the Author

Dr. Cynthia Heise has been the owner and operator of the Hearing Center of Broward, with her husband Layne Heise, since 1976. We now have 3 locations to more conveniently serve our patients. http://budurl.com/hcbartcleJFeb12

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Dr--Cynthia-Heise/233522

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