By Swain Thorne
Changes in health are not unusual as people age. Even so, there’s no reason to accept a change as being inevitable. In many cases, treatments can alleviate symptoms and undo whatever is happening. Should you notice any of the following, a visit to a local hearing doctor is in order.
You Have Trouble Hearing When People Talk
Lately, you notice that group conversations seem to merge into one solid wall of sound. You can’t distinguish who is talking, much less what each one is saying. The result is that you understand nothing and often feel frustrated.
There are a number of reasons why this is happening. Many of them do not involve a permanent hearing loss on your part. After some tests and an exam, the doctor may find a cause for your inability to distinguish between different sounds. If so, the right treatment may resolve the issue.
An Increase of Ringing in the Ears
While you can still hear well, it does seem as if you’ve developed ringing in the ears. For the most part, it doesn’t interfere with anything, but it is somewhat annoying. You wonder if anything can be done.
There are a number of reasons why tinnitus can develop. Some of those underlying causes are highly treatable. Seeing a doctor and having some hearing tests will provide answers that may lead to treatments capable of minimizing or eliminating the ringing in your ears.
Recurring Ear Infections and Aches
While you can hear fine most of the time, it does seem as if you experience ear aches more frequently than in the past. There’s even been a few ear infections recently that required treatment by a hearing doctor. Given that they keep coming back, there’s likely some underlying condition that’s causing them.
Contact a doctor and schedule an exam. Explain what’s been happening and see what can be found. It may be possible to do something that provides partial relief immediately, and then launch into a treatment series that will take care of the problem. Whatever the origin, there’s a good chance that the right course of treatment will keep the aches and the infections at bay.
And You Have to Turn the Volume Up Often
You don’t have any ringing in the ears, and you can’t remember the last time that you had an ear ache. What does seem to be happening is that you’re turning up the volume on all of the devices that you use. From streaming entertainment on a tablet to watching television, the volume is up enough that other people are starting to complain.
This could mean you are experiencing a hearing loss. There’s also the chance that some sort of partial blockage is to blame. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor and have your ears checked. The solution may be found and applied during that same visit.
If there seems to be anything out of the ordinary happening with your ears, don’t write it off as encroaching old age. Seek out medical help and find out what’s going on. The problem could turn out to be something that’s easily remedied, and will allow you to enjoy excellent hearing once again.
