Close friends and family are on the front lines of hearing loss. We are the first to notice a loved one’s struggle and are in the best position to say “I’ve noticed you’ve been missing some things in our conversations. Let’s get your hearing tested.”
Hearing loss signs to look for
- You have to repeat yourself while talking to your friend or family member.
- In noisy environments like cocktail parties, they will struggle to understand what is said or follow the conversation. Afterward, they may show signs of fatigue because of the energy it takes to try and keep up.
- Consonants become more difficult for them to discern, so they may mishear words like “sun” and “boy” for “fun” and “toy.”
- They’ll have a harder time understanding someone speaking via a cell phone than a more powerful landline.
- Because trying to keep up with conversations takes so much energy, they may start tuning out and decide not to pay attention at all.
This is what providers like Noelle Paradis, AuD fear the most—left untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation and cognitive decline.
“Hearing loss doesn’t happen overnight,” says Dr. Paradis. “It comes with aging and noise exposure.” In that way hearing damage is similar to skin damage from sun exposure—major noise events may have happened a long time ago but you start see the effects in your 60s.
“The good news is that today’s hearing aid technology has come a long way. For example, some hearing aid technology can automatically pair with your cell phone so it transmits a signal directly through your hearing aid,” says Dr. Paradis. “A comprehensive hearing test doesn’t take long, and we can suggest a range of new technology designed for someone’s specific hearing needs. So, help your loved one make the call that can improve their life.”