Listen Closely for Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss isn’t just an old-folks problem anymore; it’s a big problem for all Americans, especially U.S. teenagers. According to a recent study, one in five teenagers in the U.S. have hearing loss. Were you a former rockstar jamming to hits on eleven? Have you been turning up the volume on the radio or TV lately? If hearing loss and hearing damage are a concern for you, Dr. Madan Kandula, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has some red flags to watch out and listen for to protect your precious hearing:

1. Normal voice-level conversations are difficult to understand.When hearing damage starts, the first sign is difficulty hearing and understanding normal voice-level conversation and exchanges.

2. “Turn it down, please!” is your family’s national anthem.When hearing starts to go down, volume bars go up. Although for someone with hearing damage, boosted volume levels sounds normal, for their normal-hearing friends and families, it’s an excessive amount of noise.

3. Telephone conversations sound like they’re from an episode of “Charlie Brown.” Without non-verbal cues and lips to read, communicating on the phone becomes increasingly difficult for someone with damaged hearing.

4. The ringing in your ears isn’t your Bluetooth. Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, isn’t always a sign of hearing loss, but the most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss. If you have a ringing in your ears, see your audiologist right away. Tinnitus is a common first sign of trouble in your ears.

5. You’ve become a grouch and avoid social interactions.Hearing loss, and its equally irritating partner, communication difficulties, can be embarrassing and frustrating for those with hearing damage. People often retreat when conversation and communication becomes a struggle, but the best response is to see a certified audiologist for hearing aids and tactics to protect your hearing.