How Does Hearing Loss Impact Your Life?

Hearing loss is an issue that affects over 50 million American citizens of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. Consciously or subconsciously, it is a condition that impacts lives. Given that no two people experience the same level of hearing loss, the level of impact can be influenced by the severity of hearing loss as well as a host of other contributing factors. Nonetheless, familiarizing yourself with the most common changes experienced is something that every audiologist would advise. Here’s all you need to know.

Hearing loss impacts around the home 

Hearing loss impacts every aspect of modern life. Given that you (probably) spend more time at home than any other setting, it makes sense to begin with the changes experienced inside your property. The varied list includes, but is not limited to:

• Not being able to hear the television or radio
• Not being able to hear the doorbell or telephone ringing
• Not being able to hear fire alarms and audio warnings
• Not being able to hear loved ones from a different room
• Not being able to microwave beeps and alarm notifications

Furthermore, hearing loss can result in poor sleep habits, especially when the brain tries to compensate for the lack of noise. Tinnitus can cause insomnia and related issues. Audiologists can support the cause with various hearing technologies, particularly devices equipped with masking features.

Hearing loss impacts at work

The workplace is another venue where you can develop hearing loss, and hearing loss can impact various activities throughout the working day. For most people, any effect will be experienced for at least 40 hours every single week. Some of the most obvious impacts around the workplace include:

• A greater risk of accidents due to not hearing warnings
• You may come across rude to clients due to miscommunication
• Reduced productivity due to concentrating on interactions
• Increased mistakes due to mishearing instructions
• Feelings of isolation and poor morale around the workplace
• Heightened stress levels due to the above experiences

Hearing loss is an issue in virtually every office or workplace. With an increased understanding from employers and colleagues, the impacts can be greatly reduced for those experiencing hearing loss, regardless of whether it’s mild or profound.

Hearing loss impacts in public 

Public places are where hearing loss is often most noticeable. There are lots of background noises and distractions that can make it difficult to focus on the desired sounds, even for those with healthy hearing. This creates a situation where even mild hearing loss can impact lives. There are many situations that can surface as a result of hearing loss, such as:

• Not hearing people say “excuse me” or indicate you’re OK to move
• Not hearing friends or relatives call out for you in crowded places
• Not hearing alarms, traffic signals or people informing you to “watch out”
• Not hearing the pleasant sounds like bird songs or children playing
• Not hearing emergency vehicles or store alarms

People that experience hearing loss may not even realize that those impacts are happening. However, it does not change the influence on safety, comfort or interactions with their surroundings.

Hearing loss impacts on relationships 

Our ears are utilized for an array of interactions throughout the day, but human interactions with loved ones are perhaps the most important. Experiencing hearing loss can affect the conversations held with friends and relatives on a daily basis. Some of the outcomes caused by hearing loss include:

• Not hearing what some members say in group conversations
• Failing to hear what children or women say due to higher pitches
• Missing information about a meeting place or time
• Failing to recognize that a topic of conversation has changed
• Missing special moments such as declarations of love
• Avoiding social situations due to fear of looking silly

The impacts can occur in a variety of settings, ranging from the home to your holidays. Even when the impacts force you to change the position you sit at when talking, hearing loss will influence daily lives and virtually every interaction you have.

Reducing the impacts with support from your local audiologist

When you experience hearing loss, you will naturally adapt your life accordingly, even if you don’t realize it. However, it’s imperative that you gain a diagnosis of your issues before finding the right solution. Hearing aids and other forms of support can restore hearing to a higher level, which will reduce the daily impacts. However, it’s only made possible when you visit the audiologist. Take the first steps to get the support you need by calling Davis Audiology at (864) 810-6238 now.