Your workplace has opted to promote teamwork and collaboration by opening up the office floor plan. But this new setup has become a struggle for you. It’s because the elevated noise is making it challenging to follow along with conversation and not because you miss the privacy of cubical walls.
Even if conventional hearing tests indicate totally normal hearing, the inability to hear conversations in loud settings is often an early sign of hearing loss. This indicates that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the capacity to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Considerable brain power is needed to carry out the complex task of speech recognition. Optimal hearing abilities are necessary to differentiate voices in loud environments.
It becomes increasingly challenging for the brain to focus in on speech in noisy settings as we get older. Consequently, settings like busy offices or crowded restaurants become mentally exhausting.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in a variety of ways:
- The brain has to work overtime to comprehend speech causing increased mental fatigue.
- Trouble understanding conversations in noisy environments.
- Distraction and reduced engagement in social interactions.
Hearing loss tests
It can be particularly difficult to identify these kinds of challenges when standard hearing diagnostics seem to show normal hearing. However, scientists are looking into innovative tests to diagnose early stages of hearing loss:
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: In this test, a device monitors the electrical EEG signals sent by your ears to your brain. It will be a potent sign that you’re having some hearing difficulty if these signals fluctuate in a particular way when you’re in a crowded place.
- The Eye Test: A special pair of glasses is utilized in this test. These glasses can monitor the movement and dilation of your pupils. If you’re concentrating a little harder than usual your pupils will behave in a specific way. So if this tends to occur in crowded or noisy areas, it could be a sign that you’re having to strain to hear.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, combined with personal observation, are able to identify hearing issues in their very early stages.
What are the benefits of early detection?
There are two important benefits to early detection.
- It alleviates frustration by providing clarity about the difficulties of being in places like open office plans.
- Cognitive decline related to neglected hearing loss can be avoided with early detection.
Consider finding help if you’re having trouble understanding speech even with “normal” hearing.
Overall mental function and auditory health will be improved by early detection. Schedule a hearing exam today and investigate solutions right for you.