Most of us think of hearing loss as a problem associated with aging. Actually, lost or diminished hearing can occur at any age, even among babies. If people have been saying that you need to get a hearing test, here are additional factors that may point you in that direction:
1. You have had many ear infections over a period of time. While some people seldom have ear problems, others seem to be quite prone to them, especially if they are raised by parents or caregivers who smoke or live in a dusty or allergenic environment. If you have had numerous ear infections, sometimes termed otitis media, you may need to be checked to see if your hearing has been permanently damaged. It is not uncommon for folks in their middle years to sense a loss of hearing ability, so ask your doctor for a test to determine how well you can still use your ears.
2. You have been given large doses of powerful drugs. Certain medications such as strong antibiotics may lead to a partial hearing loss. If your hearing does not seem as good as it was before taking such medication, find out if you can take a hearing test to check for decreased auditory skills.
3. You hear things more distantly than before. Sounds may seem more far away, or you may think people around you are speaking more softly than they actually are. If you find yourself asking others frequently to repeat themselves, it may be time to get a checkup. Conversely, if people's voices sound louder than they used to, it may be your sense of hearing now magnifies normal sounds, which is another reason for a medical checkup.
4. You hear muffled, strained, or unclear noises in place of clear-cut, identifiable sounds. If you can no longer quickly identify the source or type of certain sounds, it may be that your hearing cannot distinguish between certain tones or pitches. The next time this happens, listen carefully and try to see if you can figure out the nature of the noise you are hearing. If the problem continues, you should get a hearing examination.
5. You have been exposed for long periods to loud music or occupational notice. If you like to blast music on your home stereo equipment or in your earphones, you may have caused long-term damage to your ears' ability to discern audible sounds. Or if you frequently experience exposure to workplace blasts, shrieks, or deafening machine noises, you may now be experiencing a loss of hearing ability. In any situation where the ears have been pierced by strong, loud, or sustained noises that drown out other surrounding sounds, you probably should have your ears checked by a professional medical expert.
6. You have had a head trauma or other related injury. Auto accidents, work injuries, and other physical ailments may have damaged your hearing ability. If you believe your head may have been hurt in a way that compromises your hearing skills, mention it to your doctor and ask for a hearing test.
Diminished hearing can be a common problem of aging. On the other hand, it may be a condition associated with controllable factors. Find out for sure if you have a hearing loss and take steps to correct or manage it.
