Your workplace has decided to encourage teamwork and collaboration by opening up the office floor plan. However, you find yourself struggling 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 along with conversations in loud settings often acts as an early indicator of hearing loss, despite conventional hearing tests producing normal results. This indicates that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Considerable brain power is needed to tackle the complex task of speech comprehension. Optimal hearing abilities are needed to differentiate voices in noisy environments.
As hearing begins to go, the brain faces difficulties in separating and processing speech signals amidst competing noises. Consequently, settings like bustling offices or crowded restaurants become mentally fatiguing.
How to identify the early signs of hearing loss
Early indications of hearing loss manifest in various ways:
- Problems understanding conversations in loud environments.
- Increased mental fatigue as a result of heightened concentration needed for listening.
- Social isolation.
Testing for hearing loss
Detecting such difficulties can be tricky, particularly 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: 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 bit harder than usual your pupils will behave in a specific way. So if this tends to occur in crowded or loud areas, it could be a sign that you’re having to strain to hear.
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: The electrical signal sent from your ears to your brain is monitored by an EEG in this test. If these signals change in a particular way while you’re in a crowded or loud setting, that could be a firm indication of some issues with your hearing.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, combined with personal observation, are able to detect hearing issues in their very early stages.
The benefits of early detection
There are two important advantages to early detection.
- It alleviates frustration by providing clarity about the challenges of being in places like open office plans.
- Cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing loss can be avoided with early detection.
If you’re experiencing trouble following conversations in spite of “normal” hearing, think about getting a professional evaluation.
Overall mental function and auditory health will be improved by early diagnosis. Call us today and let us help you with any hearing loss you might have.