Your workplace has chosen to encourage teamwork and collaboration by opening up the office floor plan. However, you find yourself having difficulties in this new setup. Not because you miss the privacy of cubicle walls, but because the increased noise makes it hard to follow conversations.
Even if established hearing tests indicate totally normal hearing, the inability to hear conversations in loud environments is often an early sign of hearing loss. This indicates that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Significant brain power is required to undertake the complex task of speech comprehension. Optimal hearing abilities are necessary to distinguish voices in loud environments.
As hearing starts to decline, the brain encounters difficulties in separating and processing speech signals amongst competing noises. Consequently, settings like busy offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Here are a few ways that early hearing loss can manifest:
- Social isolation.
- Increased mental exhaustion as a result of heightened concentration required for listening.
- Difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments.
Hearing loss examinations
It can be especially hard to identify these types of difficulties when standard hearing diagnostics appear to reveal normal hearing. However, researchers are looking into innovative tests to identify early stages of hearing loss:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: The electrical signal sent from your ears to your brain is monitored by an EEG in this test. It will be a potent sign that you’re having some hearing trouble if these signals change in a particular way when you’re in a crowded place.
- The Eye Test: A special set 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 usual your pupils will react in a specific way. So if this tends to happen in crowded or loud areas, it could be an indication that you’re having to strain to hear.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, along with personal observation, are able to detect hearing issues in their very early stages.
What are the benefits of early detection?
There are two significant advantages to early detection.
- It reduces aggravation by supplying clarity about the difficulties of being in settings like open office plans.
- Cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing loss can be avoided with early detection.
Consider getting help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Early diagnosis assures timely intervention, enhancing overall auditory health and cognitive function. Schedule a hearing exam today and explore solutions right for you.
