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. Not because you miss the privacy of cubicle walls, but because the increased noise makes it difficult to follow conversations.
Even if conventional hearing tests indicate totally normal hearing, the inability to hear conversations in loud settings is frequently an early sign of hearing loss. You still may have trouble discerning conversations even with “Normal” hearing.
The complexity of speech perception
Speech comprehension is a complex cognitive process that involves significant brainpower. Optimal hearing abilities are needed to differentiate voices in loud environments.
As hearing starts to go, the brain faces challenges in separating and processing speech signals amongst competing noises. As a result, settings like busy offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
How to recognize the early signs of hearing loss
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in a variety of ways:
- When in noisy settings, conversations are hard to make out.
- Distraction and reduced engagement in social interactions.
- The brain needs to work extra hard to comprehend speech causing increased mental tiredness.
Testing for hearing loss
Detecting such challenges can be challenging, especially when conventional diagnostics suggest normal hearing. Here are some tests being developed by scientists to identify hearing loss in its early phases:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: The electrical signal transmitted from your ears to your brain is tracked by an EEG in this test. It will be a potent sign that you’re having some hearing trouble if these signals fluctuate in a certain way when you’re in a crowded place.
- The Eye Test: For this test, you wear a special pair of glasses. These glasses can monitor the movement and dilation of your pupils. If you’re concentrating a little harder than normal your pupils will react in a specific way. But it could be an indication that you’re straining to hear if this happens in a loud setting.
These tests, in conjunction with personal observations, aim to identify hearing issues at their nascent phases, aiding early intervention.
What are the advantages of early detection?
Discovering even slight hearing loss early provides two substantial advantages.
- Dealing with hearing loss quickly prevents cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing impairments.
- It reduces frustration by supplying clarity about the challenges of being in places like open office plans.
Consider getting help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Early diagnosis ensures timely intervention, enhancing total auditory health and mental function. Contact us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you may have.
