Your workplace has decided to encourage teamwork and cooperation by opening up the office floor plan. However, you find yourself having difficulties in this new setup. 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.
The inability to follow conversations in loud settings often serves as an early indicator of hearing loss, in spite of conventional hearing tests yielding normal results. This suggests that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Speech comprehension is a complex mental process that requires substantial brainpower. Optimal hearing abilities are needed to distinguish voices in loud environments.
As hearing starts to go, the brain encounters challenges in isolating and processing speech signals amidst competing noises. Consequently, settings like busy offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
How to recognize the early signs of hearing loss
Early indications of hearing loss manifest in various ways:
- The brain has to work extra hard to comprehend speech causing increased mental exhaustion.
- Social isolation.
- Problems understanding conversations in loud environments.
Hearing loss examinations
Uncovering such difficulties can be challenging, especially when conventional diagnostics indicate normal hearing. Here are some tests being formulated by scientists to diagnose hearing loss in its early phases:
- The Eye Test: For this test, you wear a special pair of glasses. The movement and dilation of your pupils can be monitored with these glasses. If your pupils react in a particular way, it implies that you’re concentrating a little harder than usual. So if this tends to happen in crowded or noisy areas, it could be an indication that you’re having to strain to hear.
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: The electrical signal transmitted from your ears to your brain is monitored by an EEG in this test. If these signals fluctuate in a specific way while you’re in a crowded or noisy environment, that could be a strong indication of some issues with your hearing.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, along with personal observation, are able to identify hearing problems in their very early stages.
What are the benefits of early detection?
There are two significant benefits to early detection.
- Mental decline related to neglected hearing loss can be avoided with early detection.
- It reduces aggravation by supplying clarity about the challenges of being in settings like open office plans.
If you’re experiencing difficulty following conversations despite “normal” hearing, consider getting a professional evaluation.
Early detection assures timely intervention, enhancing total auditory health and cognitive function. Contact us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you might have.
