Your workplace has decided to encourage teamwork and cooperation by opening up the office floor plan. But this new arrangement has become challenging for you. It’s because the increased noise is making it hard to follow along with conversation and not because you miss the privacy of cubical walls.
Even if mainstream hearing tests indicate totally normal hearing, the inability to hear conversations in noisy settings is frequently an early sign of hearing loss. This indicates that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
Considerable brain power is needed to carry out the complex task of speech comprehension. Optimal hearing abilities are necessary to distinguish voices in noisy environments.
It becomes increasingly demanding for the brain to focus in on speech in loud settings as we get older. Because of this, it becomes mentally exhausting to be in loud settings like restaurants and busy offices.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Early indications of hearing loss manifest in a variety of ways:
- Social isolation.
- When in loud settings, conversations are hard to understand.
- The brain needs to work extra hard to comprehend speech leading to increased mental tiredness.
Hearing loss tests
Uncovering such difficulties can be challenging, particularly when traditional diagnostics suggest normal hearing. Here are some tests being formulated by researchers to diagnose hearing loss in its early phases:
- The Eye Test: A special set of glasses is used in this test. The movement and dilation of your pupils can be tracked with these glasses. If you’re concentrating a bit harder than usual your pupils will react in a specific way. But it could be an indication that you’re straining to hear if this occurs in a loud setting.
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device monitors the electrical EEG signals transmitted by your ears to your brain. It will be a potent sign that you’re having some hearing difficulty if these signals change in a particular way when you’re in a crowded location.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, along with personal observation, are able to detect hearing issues in their very early stages.
The benefits of early detection
Detecting even minor hearing loss early has two substantial advantages.
- Dealing with hearing loss quickly prevents mental decline related to neglected hearing impairments.
- It provides clarity with regard to challenges faced in settings like open offices, mitigating potential frustrations.
Consider getting help if you’re having difficulty understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Early diagnosis ensures timely intervention, enhancing overall auditory health and cognitive function. Schedule a hearing test today and explore solutions right for you.