Your workplace has opted to promote teamwork and cooperation by opening up the office floor plan. But this new arrangement has become challenging for you. Not because you miss the privacy of cubicle walls, but because the elevated noise makes it difficult to follow conversations.
Even if mainstream hearing tests indicate completely 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 capacity to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Speech comprehension is a complex mental task that requires substantial brainpower. Distinguishing speech from background noise and focusing on specific voices amidst a cacophony of sounds demands optimal hearing capabilities.
As hearing begins to decline, the brain faces challenges in isolating and processing speech signals amidst competing noises. As a result, it becomes mentally fatiguing to be in noisy settings like restaurants and bustling offices.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Here are a few ways that early hearing loss can manifest:
- When in noisy settings, conversations are hard to make out.
- Social isolation.
- The brain needs to work extra hard to comprehend speech leading to increased mental tiredness.
Testing for hearing loss
Uncovering such difficulties can be challenging, particularly when conventional diagnostics suggest normal hearing. However, researchers are exploring innovative tests to diagnose early signs of hearing loss:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device monitors the electrical EEG signals sent 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 specific way when you’re in a crowded place.
- The Eye Test: A special pair of glasses is used in this test. The movement and dilation of your pupils can be monitored with these glasses. If you’re concentrating a little harder than normal your pupils will behave in a specific way. But it could be a sign that you’re straining to hear if this happens in a loud setting.
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
There are two important benefits to early detection.
- Dealing with hearing loss promptly prevents cognitive decline related to neglected hearing impairments.
- It offers clarity with regard to challenges faced in settings like open offices, mitigating potential aggravations.
Think about finding help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Total mental function and auditory health will be improved by early detection. Contact us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you may have.