Your workplace has opted to encourage teamwork and collaboration by opening up the office floor plan. But this new arrangement has become a struggle for you. It’s because the elevated noise is making it difficult to follow along with conversation and not because you miss the privacy of cubical walls.
The inability to follow conversations in noisy environments frequently serves as an early indicator of hearing loss, despite conventional hearing exams yielding normal results. You still may have trouble discerning conversations even with “Normal” hearing.
Speech comprehension is a complex mental task that demands considerable brainpower. Optimal hearing capabilities are needed to distinguish voices in loud environments.
As hearing begins to go, the brain encounters difficulties in separating and processing speech signals amidst competing noises. Consequently, settings like bustling offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
Identifying hearing loss when it’s in its early phases
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in various ways:
- Distraction and decreased engagement in social interactions.
- When in noisy settings, conversations are hard to make out.
- The brain has to work extra hard to comprehend speech causing increased mental fatigue.
Testing for hearing loss
Detecting such challenges can be challenging, especially when conventional diagnostics suggest normal hearing. However, scientists are looking into innovative tests to identify early stages of hearing loss:
- The Eye Test: For this test, you wear a special set of glasses. The movement and dilation of your pupils can be tracked with these glasses. If you’re concentrating a bit harder than normal your pupils will behave in a specific way. But it could be an indication that you’re straining to hear if this happens 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 strong sign that you’re having some hearing difficulty if these signals fluctuate in a particular way when you’re in a crowded location.
These tests, coupled with personal observations, aim to identify hearing issues at their emergent phases, facilitating early intervention.
The benefits of early detection
Detecting even minor hearing loss early has two considerable advantages.
- Dealing with hearing loss quickly prevents cognitive decline associated with neglected hearing impairments.
- It reduces frustration by providing clarity about the difficulties of being in settings like open office plans.
Think about getting help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Early diagnosis ensures timely intervention, enhancing overall auditory health and mental function. Schedule a hearing test today and look into options right for you.