The importance of your hearing extends across various aspects of your life, influencing your work, personal relationships, and even your physical health and safety. Some individuals may underestimate the impact of minor hearing loss, thinking they can manage by asking for repetitions or coping with difficulties in daily situations. However, those who adopt this approach often find themselves facing numerous challenges directly related to their untreated hearing loss, enduring months, years, or even decades of unnecessary difficulties before seeking proper treatment.

Ask People to Face You When Speaking

If you ask people to face you when speaking then this will allow you to pick up on visual cues regarding what is being discussed. It will also assist you when it comes to reading facial expressions. Let your friends and your relatives know that you are experiencing hearing loss, and know that even those who have the best intentions, often end up missing the mark. Explain to those who you work with how to communicate, and tell them that you struggle in crowded restaurants, or that you find certain situations difficult because you can’t hear properly. Most people will want to help, so let them.

Consider a Hearing Aid

Hearing aids are very useful when there is a lot of background noise or when you are in places such as airports, theaters, restaurants and conference rooms. They work by amplifying the volume of the person who’s speaking so that it is louder around other sounds. When you are out in public, take note of situations where you might struggle. If you are in a busy area then take the person who you are trying to speak with, to a quiet corner so you can hear them properly.

Turn Off the TV

Another thing you need to do is turn off the television when you are not watching it. Turning off the TV will help you to hear others. It’s too easy for you to leave the TV on out of sheer habit. Ask other people to turn it off when they are not watching it too, so you can hear others better.

Non-Verbal Cues

Did you know that a lot of the time, communication comes down to non-verbal cues? Train yourself to be much more aware of gestures and also make sure that you frame the context of what is being said. If you can do this then you will see a huge improvement in how you can navigate social situations.

Don’t Get Frustrated

It’s easy to get frustrated when you are struggling with a social situation. Know that you are not alone and that hearing loss is common. It’s the third-most prevalent health condition for older adults. By talking about your hearing loss, you can make it easier to come to terms with it.

Closed Captioning

Closed captioning is there for a reason – and it’s not only available on your TV, either. Sometimes it’s available for your phone. Make sure that you take advantage of this if you can, and also take note of the available apps that have it as a function.

Chat with an Audiologist

Another thing you can do is schedule an appointment with an audiologist. When you sit down with a professional, they’ll go over your symptoms, medical history and then run some tests. From there, they’ll be able to tell you if hearing loss is present, and if so, what treatments are ideal for your situation. Most typically this will be in the form of hearing aids, which come in a variety of styles, sizes and colors.

Don’t Shut Yourself Off

Individuals with untreated hearing loss are more inclined to socially isolate themselves. Because keeping up with conversations can become tiring, you may feel the urge to stay home or interact less. If allowed to continue, this often leads to anxiety or depression. Social isolation not only impacts the individual’s emotional well-being but also hinders the potential for meaningful connections and participation in various aspects of life. Treating hearing loss enables you to partake in daily conversations and events without feeling fatigued or lethargic from straining to listen.

If you want to learn more about hearing loss or if you want to make sure that you are seeking the right treatment for your condition, then get in touch with Heights Audiology & Hearing Aids. If you have any questions about our testing or treatment process you can reach our team at (713) 234-1460.

Tags: hearing loss and mental health, hearing loss symptoms, hearing loss testing