Hearing loss has an impact on all areas of a person’s life, and one of the most pernicious effects can be on their social lives. Struggling to hear a conversation can make social interactions frustrating and tiring and someone with hearing loss may feel left out or alone even when engaging in social activities. This can put a strain on a person’s existing relationships and it’s not uncommon for someone with hearing loss to start to withdraw from their loved ones. They may stop attending family events or arranging get-togethers with friends. Over time, this isolation can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and psychological well-being. The psychological impacts of hearing loss

A registered audiologist is a health professional who specializes in hearing conditions. They can evaluate, diagnose and provide treatment options for a variety of hearing and balance disorders. If you have concerns about your hearing but aren’t sure if you should see a specialist, here are four signs that you should make an appointment to see a local audiologist. 1. You’re experiencing issues with your hearing Some hearing conditions can progress gradually over time, so it’s important to pay attention to minor changes in your hearing. If you’ve been having to turn up the volume higher than normal on your TV or have been experiencing difficulties with following conversations or understanding people on the phone, you should book an appointment for a hearing evaluation with an audiologist. Noise sensitivity can also be a sign of a hearing condition. If you’re having trouble dealing with everyday sounds or certain sounds now seem much louder than they did in the past, you should have your hearing checked by a professional. 2. You’re experiencing balance issues 

Continuous exposure to loud noises can lead to hearing loss over time, as the intense sound waves wear away the delicate hair cells known as cilia in your inner ear. Cilia are responsible for transforming sound waves into electrical signals that your brain can interpret as sounds - meaning your ability to hear is negatively impacted when your cilia are damaged. This kind of hearing loss can be permanent, so it is important to take the risks posed by noise exposure seriously. There are a lot of ways someone could be exposed to unsafe levels of noise, but a common place where people encounter this issue is in the workplace. How to Know if Your Work Puts You at Risk of Hearing Loss – And What to Do About It Unsafe Workplace Noise Levels The daily noise level exposure limit for an eight-hour workday is 85dB. In Canada, workplaces where employees may be exposed to noise levels that exceed that are required to provide hearing protection equipment and regular audiometric testing to their workers. Construction jobsites or workplaces with a lot of machinery are a few examples of places where the noise levels could prove to be hazardous to your hearing health. If you must often shout to be heard during a shift or are experiencing ringing in your ears at the end of a workday, the noise level at your workplace should be investigated so that appropriate measures can be taken to safeguard workers’ hearing health. Early Signs of Hearing Loss Damage to hearing from long-term exposure to dangerous levels of noise might not be immediately apparent to the sufferer. It can take time for noise-induced hearing loss to develop to a point that it is obvious, and the person affected by it likely won’t experience any pain. As such, it’s important to pay attention to smaller signs of hearing loss so that problems can be caught early. If you experience ringing or buzzing in your ears, you find yourself having to raise the volume higher than normal on the TV, find that speech sounds muffled or have difficulty hearing certain types of sounds (e.g. high-pitched sounds), you should book yourself in for a hearing exam. Not all potential warning signs are related to hearing. Some people might also experience feelings of dizziness, fatigue or pressure in their ears, so be sure to pay attention to any signs that something isn’t right with your ears.  How to Minimize Your Risks of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss If you’re finding the level of noise at your workplace aggravating or feel like it could be hazardous to your hearing, it is important to take steps to protect yourself and your colleagues. Bring the issue to the attention of your supervisor or Health and Safety Officer so they can perform an exposure assessment and implement a noise management program. These programs should include regular audiometric testing and noise control measures, such as the use of earmuffs and ear plugs or finding ways to reduce the noise levels (e.g. purchasing quieter equipment or using barriers to muffle the noise). You can also take steps to distance yourself from noise sources at your workplace and take regular breaks from noisy areas. If you’d like custom noise protection, you can also have earmolds made that will match the contours of your ear and offer the best possible protection. If you require custom hearing protection or would like to have an audiometric evaluation done to check for hearing loss, our registered audiologists are here to help. Discover Hearing is the longest established, independent, locally owed hearing clinic in St. Albert and the only hearing clinic in the city with a Full Time Certified Audiologist. We can provide testing services to anyone 10 years of age and older and our team is ready to provide you with tailor-made solutions to fit your needs. Contact us today to book an appointment.

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