The sense of hearing is as important as that of sight – but it is more subtle. For instance, we tend to notice vision problems more readily than we would if we had trouble with being able to hear. That’s why it is important to pay attention and be proactive whenever our sense of hearing seems a bit “off” – no matter how slight.

Consider the following questions:

• Are you having increasing trouble keeping up with conversations?
• Do the people you are conversing with, who have always spoken clearly, now seem to be mumbling?
• When communicating with someone on a telephone, is hearing what’s being said getting more difficult?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time for you to have your hearing checked by an
audiologist. More often than not, these situations can start out as small, minor annoyances – but they will become more serious over time. That’s why it’s important to take action sooner rather than later.

Other indications of possible hearing loss include being unable to remember what has been said to you and becoming easily distracted. And, if you find that your sense of balance is unsteady, that too is a sign of hearing loss. That’s because auditory cues help us to know where we are spatially.

What’s noteworthy about the above scenarios is that we might not necessarily connect them with a change in our hearing. That’s why it is important to be mindful of any changes to our habits and interactions, however minor they may seem. And it is even more important to face these changes and have them checked as soon as possible.

SightMD, in addition to all things vision, also offers an array of audiology and hearing services. You can contact us to make an appointment for a hearing exam. Please excuse the pun, but we are ready to listen to you and help with your concerns, be they related to seeing or hearing (or both).