Hearing loss isn’t a topic most people think about or discuss unless they or a loved one are experiencing it. Yet, the more you know about this condition—and the earlier you catch it—the better equipped you’ll be to adapt, manage it, and prevent irreversible damage. At Sensible Hearing, in Decatur and Springfield, Illinois, our goal is to educate our patients so they can take control of their hearing and live their lives to the fullest.

Signs of Hearing Loss

Speech and other sounds seem muffled.
Understanding words in noisy environments is challenging.
You must ask others to talk slower, clearer, or louder.
You must raise the volume on the radio or television.
You avoid conversations or social gatherings due to hearing troubles.

How to Communicate with Someone Who Has Hearing Loss

Ensure you have their attention before speaking to them.
Maintain eye contact to give them the benefit of using body language for context clues.
Ensure nothing blocks your face and try not to talk with food or gum in your mouth.
Speak as usual, without over-emphasizing words or shouting
Reduce background noise
Ensure good lighting so your listener can lip read if necessary.
Use texting to aid in conversation.

A Look at Tinnitus

Hearing ringing or sounds in one or both ears when there are no outside noises present is a condition called tinnitus. It can be caused by age, injury, or underlying health issues. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but symptoms can be alleviated with earwax removal, treating blood vessel conditions, wearing hearing aids, or switching medications. Sometimes white noise can help.

Hearing Loss Impacts More Than Hearing. It also:

Leads to fewer learning and employment opportunities because of impaired communication.
Creates a tendency to withdraw socially.
Causes self-esteem and confidence to plummet, leading to emotional anxiety and depression.