“More research is needed to understand the extraordinary differences in hearing,” Fuller-Thomson shares.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Some people may have a hearing problem and without realizing it.
If you experience any of the following, you should talk with your doctor:
- Have trouble hearing over the telephone
- Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking
- Often ask people to repeat what they are saying
- Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
- Have a problem hearing because of background noise
- Think that others seem to mumble
- Can’t understand when women and children speak to you
The most important thing you can do is seek professional advice for your hearing problems.
Your family doctor will be able to diagnose and treat your hearing problem or refer you to other experts, like an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) or an audiologist (a health professional who can identify and measure hearing loss).
RELATED: Could Your Hearing Loss Lead to Dementia?
How to cope with hearing loss
Additionally, you can try the following tips to cope with or help someone with hearing loss suggested by the NIH:
- Let people know you have a hearing problem.
- Ask people to face you and to speak more slowly and clearly. Also, ask them to speak louder without shouting.
- Pay attention to what is being said and to facial expressions or gestures.
- Let the person talking know if you do not understand what he or she said.
- Ask the person speaking to reword a sentence and try again.
- Find a good location to listen. Place yourself between the speaker and sources of noise and look for quieter places to talk.