Hearing changes often do not result in an overall loss of volume, which is why you may not think that you’re experiencing hearing loss.
Some sounds remain as audible as they always were, yet others become harder to hear, and some conversations require more attention.
You might notice that words just don’t sound clear.
Why is clarity affected? Many people with hearing loss find it especially difficult to hear certain sounds because their hearing loss affects a certain range of pitches. In typical hearing loss, softer, higher-pitched sounds become harder to hear, particularly from a distance.
Speech has many quiet, rapidly changing high-pitched sounds. A lot of guesswork may be needed to understand the actual word if some of the speech sounds are not heard clearly. An example is the word “fit,” which can easily be confused with “sit,” “tick” or “sick.” Conversations become more challenging when someone is speaking indirectly, or when there is background noise.
Because people with hearing loss often do fairly well in quiet, face-to-face situations, signs of hearing loss often may not be obvious to the doctor. Only a small percentage of doctors routinely screen for hearing loss. It’s up to you to be alert to the signs and to tell your doctor that your hearing may be changing.
Do something about it!
May is Better Hearing Month, with a goal on raising awareness on the causes of and treatments for hearing loss. In conjunction with this national public awareness effort, Hearing Healthcare of Virginia is offering complimentary hearing screenings at its six locations in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia – Charlottesville, Covington, Culpeper, Fishersville, Harrisonburg, and Lexington.
Hearing Healthcare is also offering a series of Lunch and Learn events in the month of May. Expert audiologists will be on hand to answer questions and provide a complimentary hearing screening at the events.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (888) 512-1164.
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