Your workplace recently embraced the trend of open-office floor plans, promoting cooperation and teamwork. 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 difficult to follow conversations.
Even if mainstream hearing tests indicate completely normal hearing, the inability to hear conversations in noisy environments is frequently an early sign of hearing loss. You still may have trouble discerning conversations even with “Normal” hearing.
The complexity of speech perception
Significant brain power is needed to undertake the complex task of speech comprehension. Optimal hearing capabilities are needed to distinguish voices in loud environments.
As hearing starts to go, the brain faces challenges in separating and processing speech signals amongst competing sounds. Consequently, settings like bustling offices or crowded restaurants become mentally fatiguing.
Recognizing hearing loss when it’s in its early stages
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in a variety of ways:
- Social isolation.
- Increased mental fatigue due to heightened concentration needed for listening.
- Problems understanding conversations in loud environments.
Testing for hearing loss
Detecting such difficulties can be tricky, particularly when traditional diagnostics indicate normal hearing. Here are some tests being formulated by researchers to identify hearing loss in its early stages:
- 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 problems with your hearing.
- 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 your pupils react in a certain way, it implies that you’re concentrating a bit harder than usual. So if this tends to occur in crowded or loud areas, it could be a sign that you’re having to strain to hear.
Early intervention will be possible if these tests, along with personal observation, are able to identify hearing issues in their very early stages.
What are the advantages of early detection?
Detecting even slight hearing loss early provides two significant advantages.
- Dealing with hearing loss quickly prevents cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing impairments.
- It offers clarity regarding difficulties faced in settings like open offices, alleviating potential aggravations.
If you’re experiencing difficulty following conversations in spite of “normal” hearing, think about seeking 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 may have.