What we call hearing loss isn’t always an overall loss of volume. Some sounds can remain as audible as they always were for those experiencing hearing loss.
The only difference might be that words just don’t sound clear, and that you need to pay more attention in conversations to be able to process everything being said.
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.
Hearing Healthcare of Virginia
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.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (888) 512-1164.
More online at www.HearVirginia.com.
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