The earlier hearing loss is detected, the simpler it becomes to maintain one’s overall well-being and quality of life. According to Dr. Leslie Berghash, Dr. John Lanza, and Dr. Matthew Ericksen of South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat, serving Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Fort Pierce, FL, identifying early hearing loss helps preserve normal auditory functioning, which ensures an optimal quality of life and safety.

Recognizing Signs of Hearing Loss

The importance of early detection is essential for a variety of reasons. While it is a classic sign to find it difficult to understand the spoken word in noisy settings - or when more than one person is talking, other signs of hearing loss include-

• Frequently ask those around you to speak up/repeat what they say as you have misinterpreted their message.
• Turning up the radio, TV, or the volume on other electronic devices to a level that others find tremendous and, sometimes, offensively loud.
• Avoiding social gatherings as communication/conversations become frustrating.
• Sounds seem unclear or muffled, making it difficult to discern between sound differences.
• Some individuals will first find it challenging to hear high-pitched sounds, i.e., birds chirping or a ringing phone.
• Ringing/buzzing/hissing in your ears – i.e., tinnitus.
• Hearing loss makes it difficult to understand, so responding appropriately becomes difficult.
• Certain people experiencing hearing loss may find they have ear pain, discomfort, or a feeling of fullness in their ears.
• Hearing loss impacting the inner ear, can also create balance problems or vertigo.

Learning How a Hearing Aid Can Help

Routine hearing screenings, which offer tremendous benefits, can identify any changes to your ability to hear early in the process so there is no difficulty hearing clearly in various settings, including a noisy work office with complex sounds, pitches, tones, and volumes or simply a serene or calm home environment.

If you find you are experiencing hearing loss, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists) at South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat can help advise which available hearing aids would be most appropriate and suit each person’s lifestyle and specific hearing needs.

Experiencing Any of the Noted Signs of Hearing Loss?

Do you live/work in and around Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, FL, and want more information about hearing loss and the many innovative and cutting-edge hearing aids now available?

Contact Dr. Berghash, Dr. Lanza, and Dr. Ericksen or a member of South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat staff at (772) 398-9911 (Port St. Lucie), (863) 357-7791 (Okeechobee), (772) 464-6055 (Fort Pierce) or online.

Remember - Early detection, followed by prompt intervention, can help manage hearing loss effectively.