Your workplace has decided to promote teamwork and cooperation 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.
Even if conventional hearing tests indicate perfectly normal hearing, the inability to hear conversations in noisy environments is frequently an early sign of hearing loss. This suggests that having “normal” hearing doesn’t guarantee the ability to comprehend speech effectively.
The complexity of speech perception
Substantial brain power is needed to undertake the complex task of speech comprehension. Optimal hearing capabilities are needed to differentiate voices in noisy environments.
It becomes increasingly demanding for the brain to isolate speech in loud settings as we get older. Because of this, it becomes mentally fatiguing to be in loud environments like restaurants and bustling offices.
Recognizing hearing loss when it’s in its early phases
Early signs of hearing loss manifest in various ways:
- Social isolation.
- Difficulty understanding conversations in loud environments.
- Increased mental exhaustion due to heightened concentration needed for listening.
Hearing loss assessments
It can be particularly hard to identify these types of difficulties when traditional hearing diagnostics appear to show normal hearing. However, scientists are looking at innovative tests to diagnose early stages of hearing loss:
- 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 normal your pupils will react in a particular way. But it could be a sign that you’re straining to hear if this occurs in a noisy setting.
- Monitoring Electrical Signals: The electrical signal transmitted from your ears to your brain is monitored by an EEG in this test. It will be a strong sign that you’re having some hearing trouble if these signals change in a particular way when you’re in a crowded place.
These tests, coupled with personal observations, aim to identify hearing issues at their nascent phases, facilitating early intervention.
The benefits of early detection
Detecting even minor hearing loss early has two significant advantages.
- It reduces frustration by supplying clarity about the difficulties of being in settings like open office plans.
- Addressing hearing loss quickly prevents cognitive decline related to untreated hearing impairments.
If you’re experiencing difficulty following conversations despite “normal” hearing, think about getting a professional evaluation.
Total cognitive function and auditory health will be improved by early diagnosis. Schedule a hearing exam today and explore solutions right for you.
