The first real-world analysis of 220 American tinnitus patients treated with FDA Approved Lenire at Alaska Hearing and Tinnitus is now available. Real world results were consistent with three large-scale clinical trials for Lenire. The clinical trials used by the FDA to determine the clinical effective of Lenire.

• 91.5% of patients had clinically meaningful tinnitus reduction after 12-weeks of Lenire.
• 78% had clinically meaningful reduction in tinnitus after 6-weeks of Lenire.
• 89.2% of patients said they benefited from treatment with Lenire.

Lenire is available at San Francisco Hearing Center located in San Francisco, California. Patients who wish to be assessed for Lenire can book an appointment by calling 415-346-6886, emailing info@sfhearingcenter.com or booking an appointment online here.

In this study conducted from May 2023 – March 2024, 220 people with moderate or worse tinnitus participated in the study. Of those 159 were male and 61 were female. The average participant age was 60 and together they had a mean length of tinnitus of 8.5 years! Many of those who participated felt they benefited from Lenire and experienced a lasting and meaningful reduction in their tinnitus.

Watch Inspiring Lenire Patient Stories

 Watch real world patients share their stories about getting relief from tinnitus using Lenire in their own words.

Visit Lenire’s Patient Stories page to hear how Lenire helped a pilot overcome tinnitus turbulence and stay airborne, a business leader get relief after 20-years, and many more inspiring stories.

[Watch Patient Stories]

The post Real World Evidence for Tinnitus Patients Treated with Lenire appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

Lenire is an evidence-based treatment device proven to soothe tinnitus. Use it from the comfort of home to manage your tinnitus with the help of qualified audiologists.

How does Lenire work?

The device plays sounds from headphones and provides gentle pulses to the tongue via a Tonguetip. The sounds and pulses work together to retrain your brain. You pay less attention to your tinnitus reducing its impact on your day-to-day life.

What is the Lenire device?

Bluetooth headphones, which are provided, deliver customized sounds to activate the auditory nerve to the brain.

Tonguetip: The Tonguetip, specifically designed to treat tinnitus, sits comfortably in the closed mouth.
Tiny electrodes on the Tonguetip deliver mild and safe energy pulses to the surface of the tip of the tongue.

Controller: A lightweight handheld device that controls the timing and intensity of the treatment. You can start, pause and resume the treatment session, adjust the volume of the sound, and adjust the level of the tongue stimulation.

The settings are customized by your healthcare professional to suit your tinnitus after an assessment to make sure you’re suitable.

What is the research behind Lenire?

Lenire is the first device of its kind to receive a grant of approval from the FDA to treat tinnitus. This follows a large-scale clinical trial designed to meet the FDA’s requirements during which 83% of patients recommended Lenire for the treatment of tinnitus. The largescale trial’s results were consistent with real-world evidence from 204 patients*.

How can I get started?

We’re a trained provider of treatment of tinnitus with Lenire. Get in touch today by calling 415-346-6886 to book an initial assessment for Lenire. During this appointment the audiologist will conduct a thorough tinnitus and audiologic assessment and design a treatment plan that works for you.

The post What is Lenire for Tinnitus? appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

People who hear ringing in their ears often wonder how long will tinnitus last and will it eventually go away. These are great questions. Let’s discover more about this bothersome issue.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is any perception of sound without an external stimulus. It is from Latin, “tinnire” to ring. It may sound like:

• • Ringing
  • Buzzing
  • Static
  • Roaring
  • Hissing
  • Electricity
  • Crickets
  • Pulsating
  • Whooshing
  • Musical or speech-like (rare)
  • Different from hallucinations which involve meaningful speech

Types of Tinnitus:

• Objective (Rare): Potentially measurable and heard by an observer.
• Subjective (Common): Only perceptible to the individual.
  • Primarily due to abnormal neural activity either in the brain or the nerves of the auditory system.
  • Ear Noise (Very Common) – Subjective tinnitus that comes and goes.

Did you know? In 1953, Heller and Bergman showed that 97% of normal hearing adults perceived phantom auditory signals when placed in silence for 5 minutes.

Who Has It?

The first written history of ringing or noises in the ear is from Ancient Egypt in the 16^th Treatment involved herbs and oils poured into the ears. Well known people throughout history with tinnitus include Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vince, Ludwig van Beethoven, Vincent Van Gogh, and Charles Darwin. Current celebrities with tinnitus include almost every professional rock musician. Others include William Shatner, Keanu Reeves, Sylvester Stallone, Steve Martin, etc.

What Causes It?

Tinnitus is not a disease. It may occur as a symptom of specific diseases or conditions. It is a common symptom of hearing loss. Other common causes are obstructions in the middle ear, Treating the cause is an effective option to managing tinnitus.

Is there a cure?

• Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that can cure tinnitus.

What about gingko?

• Please check with your Primary Care Physician before using. Gingko is a blood thinner.
• Some patients find that gingko helps with their tinnitus.

Tinnitus checklist:

• An appointment with your Primary Care Physician who may refer you to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor (Otolaryngologist or ENT) or an Audiologist.
• See an Audiologist for a comprehensive hearing evaluation (audiological evaluation).

An audiological evaluation by an Audiologist will tell us a great amount of information about your auditory pathway.

• You may have hearing loss.
  • 80% of tinnitus patients have hearing loss.
  • 80% of hearing loss patients have tinnitus.
  • Are you a hearing aid candidate? If you are a hearing aid candidate, treating your hearing loss may be the best solution to decreasing your tinnitus.
  • Treating the hearing loss with hearing aids can alleviate the perception of tinnitus.

Will Tinnitus Go Away?

If your tinnitus is non-bothersome and intermittent, then you are successfully managing your tinnitus. Tinnitus that does not elicit a negative emotional response is easy to habituate to. Most people can habituate! Emotional symptoms sometimes accompany tinnitus. It is the emotional reactions to tinnitus that cause the tinnitus to be problematic.

The three primary areas affected by tinnitus are concentration, sleeping, and hearing. Anxiety and depression are also experienced with tinnitus.

• Normal hearing with tinnitus
  • Sound therapy: people do better with sound. You can use sounds that you already have, including a fan, noise machine, or an app on your phone (Resound Relief, for example). An enriching sound environment reduces tinnitus.
  • Avoid noisy hazardous environments or wear hearing protection when in these environments, including concerts, bars, clubs, using machinery, shooting guns, etc.

Need help with your tinnitus? Call us at 415-346-6886 to request a hearing evaluation and tinnitus consultation.

The post How long does tinnitus last? appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

As you can imagine, this causes a fair bit of annoyance in your life. But it can also impact the quality of your life as well. Here are four different ways that tinnitus can be a regular burden for you:

Can lead to insomnia

Insomnia is a condition where you can’t get to sleep. When you have tinnitus, there’s a high chance you’ll end up with sleep issues. It’s very hard to relax when you can hear a loud ringing or buzzing sound the whole time. To make things worse, it feels as though it gets louder when you become aware of it. You can’t stop thinking about the ringing, and you can’t get to sleep.

Human beings need sleep to recover after a long day. As a result, tinnitus stops you from feeling refreshed every morning. You wake up with bags under your eyes and just a couple of hours of sleep to pull you through the day. In turn, this can impact your work and your personal life.

Makes it hard to concentrate

Similarly, tinnitus makes it very hard for you to concentrate or focus on specific things. If you’re trying to work, then it provides a constant distraction. No matter how hard you try, you can’t get rid of the ringing in your ears. It’s the only thing you can think about, and this leads to a complete lack of focus.

Even if you’re at home reading a book or watching TV, this is an inconvenience. It stops you from enjoying your hobbies! But, it’s even more of an issue when it impacts your job. A lack of concentration will lead to a dip in your work performance. If things don’t improve, then your boss might start having words with you.

Causes emotional distress

If you are experiencing tinnitus, then it can be very emotionally challenging. In effect, it’s a burden on your mental health and emotional wellbeing. It almost makes you feel paranoid every single day. As soon as you wake up, you wait to see if the ringing is still there. When it is, you really struggle to shake it from your mind.

In some severe cases, tinnitus can cause people to experience emotional difficulties. This has nothing to do with pain – it’s completely painless – it’s just the sheer psychological effect it carries. Tinnitus can consume your life if you don’t get it treated. As a result, your relationships can be affected too. Some people become closed off from their friends because tinnitus is just weighing down on them and stopping them from feeling happy and cheerful.

Difficulty communicating with others

Lastly, tinnitus can make it hard for you to communicate with others. First of all, it sometimes comes about as a result of hearing loss. Already, that impacts your ability to communicate. But, having the ringing in your ears also plays a big role here. It relates back to the idea of being unable to concentrate. Instead of focusing on what the other person is saying, you’re focusing on the noise in your ears.

Consequently, conversations are littered with pardons and can you say that again please? It can make you feel embarrassed.

How do you treat tinnitus?

The good news is that there are tinnitus treatment options out there. An audiologist will likely recommend one of these three methods:

• Hearing aids: Special hearing aids contain tinnitus masking features that block out the ringing sound from your ears.
• Sound machines: These machines can be placed in your home and provide white noise or other sounds to mask your tinnitus.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy: This method involves training yourself to get used to the tinnitus. Instead of seeing it as a burden, it becomes a normal part of life. In turn, this almost makes it fade into the background of your mind.

Contact us to learn more

Are you experiencing tinnitus? If so, then we highly recommend giving the team at San Francisco Hearing Center a call. We provide help for anyone suffering from hearing-related issues.

The post 4 Ways Tinnitus Impacts Quality of Life appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

Luckily, there are treatment options out there for people experiencing problems such as tinnitus and hearing loss; those two things can be linked, of course. So, if you are suffering from tinnitus, finding the right support from an audiologist is the wisest thing you can do.

Trying to interpret sounds when you have tinnitus can put a strain on the mind

When you have tinnitus, you sometimes have to strain to follow conversations and focus on particular sounds. When this happens, it puts more of a strain on your mind, and it’s this that’s linked to cognitive decline and developing problems in that department. It’s challenging and takes its toll in the end.

Many people don’t realize how much of an impact it’s having on them because interpreting sounds can seem like something easy and straightforward, but, unfortunately, that’s not true. We interact with others every day, and when that becomes difficult for you to do, it’s going to have an impact in the end.

Studies have found people with hearing loss are at higher risk of cognitive impairment

Research determined people who have hearing loss are at greater risk of cognitive impairment and other mental problems than those who don’t have hearing loss. This link goes to show how much of an impact our hearing has on our mental capacity, especially as we get older.

This is important because tinnitus is linked to hearing loss and can be categorized as a form of hearing loss if the problem is severe enough. It also goes to show that it’s important to receive help and treatment for any hearing problems you might be having before your cognitive abilities are impaired too.

Social isolation can contribute to these problems too

It’s not just the physical problem of hearing loss that can impact your cognitive abilities either. It’s also the case that social isolation can speed up your cognitive decline and lead to a range of mental health problems. When people can no longer hear the way they used to, they can find conversations difficult.

This then leads to social isolation as they choose to withdraw from conversations and social situations because they want to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to take part as a result of their hearing issues. It’s a vicious cycle that can accelerate the kinds of problems we’re talking about.

Tinnitus can disrupt cognitive performance

Cognitive performance can be disrupted as a direct result of having your hearing impaired by tinnitus. When you have a constant ringing sound in your ears, it becomes tough to concentrate and focus on the things you’re doing. By disrupting your concentration, your overall cognitive performance can start to be impacted too.

If you’ve been suffering from tinnitus for a while, this inability to concentrate on things fully and properly is most likely something that you’ve already experienced yourself. It’s never a pleasant thing, but there are treatment options out there, so don’t feel like you have to put up with the situation because that’s not true at all.

Prevention is better than cure, and it’s often too late for cures

It’s vital to remember that when it comes to the link between tinnitus and cognitive disorders, prevention is always better than cure. By the time cognitive damage has been done, it’s often too late to do much about it because it’s not the kind of thing that can be easily reversed.

This is why it is so crucial to seek treatment from an audiologist when you notice symptoms developing. That way, they can address symptoms with a recommended solution before they eventually lead to any kind of irreversible cognitive decline.

If you’re seeking help for tinnitus or another auditory-related condition, talk to the audiologists at Audiological Services of San Francisco. We’re more than happy to book an appointment for you and find a solution that works for you. The sooner you get treatment, the better it’ll be for your long-term cognitive health. Our phone number is 415-346-6886, so don’t hesitate to contact us today!

The post Tinnitus and Cognitive Disorders appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

Ringing in your ears is commonly known as tinnitus. This is a condition that can affect anyone at any stage in life. However, as you age, the chances of getting tinnitus will increase. As for what causes ringing in your ears, well, there can be many different things.

Hearing loss

Hearing loss is possibly the number one cause of ringing in the ears. There’s a common misconception that tinnitus causes hearing loss when it’s actually the other way round. Hearing loss is when the sensory cells in your ear have become damaged. As a result, you don’t pick up sounds as you used to. This is why everything seems quieter.

Some studies have shown that this leads to tinnitus as your brain starts to produce these ringing sounds to compensate for the lack of noise. You’ll know if your tinnitus is caused by hearing loss because it coincides with your inability to hear correctly. Usually, this is most likely to be an issue when you reach 60 or older. At this age, the sensory cells in your ears begin to die out, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus.

Damage to your ears caused by loud noises

Tinnitus is often caused by damage to your ears through exposure to loud noises. Your audiologist will tell you that any sounds above 85dB have the potential to be harmful. Loud sounds can rupture or tear your eardrum, which leads to the ringing or whistling associated with tinnitus.

As you get older, you may be exposed to loud sounds over a long period. For example, what if you spent 20 years of your life working in a noisy factory? The accumulation of loud noises will damage your ears every single day, making it likely that you suffer from tinnitus. Protecting yourself from loud noises is one of the best ways to prevent tinnitus.

Too much earwax

Our ears use earwax as a way of getting rid of bacteria and germs. Usually, you don’t have to worry about it as it takes care of itself. However, earwax blockages are somewhat common. This happens when too much wax is built up in your ear, and it hardens.

For older people, this is common if you wear hearing aids or use earplugs. By inserting something into your ear, you make it harder for the wax to soften and melt away naturally. As a result, it can solidify and cause blockages that lead to tinnitus. If you have a lot of wax, then it can touch your eardrum and cause further irritation, which also causes tinnitus.

Specific medications

Sometimes, your medication can be what causes ringing in your ears or tinnitus. Or, if you already have it, then medication can make it worse. Different types can be problematic, including the following:

• Antibiotics
• Aspirin
• Diuretics
• Cancer medications
• Antidepressants

If you take any of these medications, then there’s a chance it might be what’s causing the ringing in your ears. See your audiologist for a full check-up and examination as they can help figure out if it’s medication-based or something else.

High blood pressure

People with high blood pressure are found to be at an increased risk of getting tinnitus. This is because the condition affects your blood flow. As a result, it leads to issues in your ears, which causes tinnitus.

If you have no hearing problems, you don’t get exposed to loud sounds, and you have no earwax, then this medical condition may be the cause.

Can tinnitus be treated?

Some tinnitus is temporary, which means it will go away when the cause is dealt with. Tinnitus caused by loud noises, earwax, medication, or high blood pressure may fall into this bracket. But, some tinnitus is permanent – mainly when it comes from hearing loss. In this case, it can’t be cured, but it can be treated.

Your audiologist will suggest various options, but the most common are hearing aids, sound machines and tinnitus retraining therapy. One may work better for you than the others; you’ll need to visit your audiologist to find out.

Contact us today for more help!

At San Francisco Hearing Center, we can help you with a range of tinnitus and hearing loss-related problems. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more and get the help you need. We’ll happily answer any of your questions.

The post What Causes Ringing in Your Ears appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

Without that, you could be vulnerable to hearing loss and problems such as tinnitus. If you’re not sure how to choose the right hearing protection for you, here are some of the things you should know and understand.

Ensure your hearing protection suits its purpose

First of all, you need to make sure that the hearing protection you have in place is fit for purpose. That means it has to be suitable for what you’re doing. For example, there are musicians’ earplugs that are designed for people who are regularly close to loud instruments and speakers. But there are also headphones that are suitable for people who work at airports on the tarmac who need protection when they’re close to planes taking off. There’s a solution for every need.

Find the right comfort and fit

It’s also essential to make sure that the hearing protection you choose is comfortable for you to wear. If you don’t find it comfortable, it’s probably going to end up causing you problems. And that can lead to you simply deciding not to wear it even when you need it. Protection is vital so you can’t simply not wear it because you made the wrong choice and end up with hearing protection that’s not comfortable. Think about the fit as well because that’ll impact comfort.

Talk to your employer

If you’re buying hearing protection that you’re going to be using in your workplace, you could talk to your employer about what you need. If it’s a new job and you’re not sure precisely what kind of hearing protection you need, your employer should be able to offer you the right guidance. In some instances, they might even provide hearing protection you. In some places, it’s necessary for employers to provide this kind of equipment to their employees when they’re working.

Understand legal safety standards

There are some occasions when there are specific rules in place that have been written into law under various health and safety acts. So, be sure to look into this and see if there are certain levels of protection that are required in certain industries and working scenarios. This, again, might be something that you have to talk to your employer about. If it’s written into law, the chances are, your employer will be obligated to provide you with the right hearing protection.

Store and maintain your hearing protection correctly

It’s also important to store your hearing protection correctly. Be sure to find out the best way to clean your hearing protection once you own it. And when you’re not using the hearing protection, it’s advised that you store it in a place that’s dry and protected from any dirt or grime that might otherwise find its way onto the item. The last thing you want is to develop an ear infection because you didn’t store and maintain your hearing protection correctly and adequately.

Consider a custom-made solution

Many people choose to opt for custom made solutions when they’re not sure exactly what they need from their hearing protection. These are often earplugs that are molded to the shape of your inner ear, offering a tighter and more comfortable level of protection. When you choose a solution like this, you can be sure that you’re getting exactly the kind of protection that you require. There are lots of retailers out there that provide custom made hearing protection solutions, so take a look.

Consider the replacement rate

Finally, you should think about the replacement rate of the hearing protection you choose. If you choose disposable earplugs, you’ll have to replace these very regularly. But even earmuffs and banded earplugs should be replaced every four to eight months depending on how heavily they’re used. If you don’t replace them regularly enough, you might not be getting the level of protection you need, and that can then lead to problems with your hearing if you’re not careful.

Head to San Francisco Hearing Center if you want further help with anything relating to your hearing. We’ll be more than happy to book an appointment for you and find a solution to the problems you’ve been experiencing recently.

The post How to choose Hearing Protection appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

Managing your stress

The constant ringing or buzzing in your ears caused by tinnitus can, unsurprisingly, make life stressful on occasion. As stress and anxiety can provide a negative stimulus to a sensitive hearing system, it is important to manage the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety and have this be a priority. Upon diagnosis of a hearing problem, it can be tempting to withdraw, as feelings of isolation upon diagnosis of these sorts of issues are common. But by managing your stress through mindfulness techniques, this can provide a suitable coping method, as well as counseling and other alternative therapies recommended by an audiologist.

Protecting your ears

Many people benefit from using a hearing aid because it can amplify outside noise, but it’s also important to avoid situations that can damage your hearing further. This could mean that you would have to alter your lifestyle accordingly, especially if you go to noisy events like concerts or sports games. Just because tinnitus has been diagnosed, it doesn’t mean that this will stay in the same condition. When appropriate, you should use protective ear wear. Avoiding loud environments where possible will safeguard your ears against additional damage.

Addressing certain lifestyle habits

Looking after yourself is priority number one, and addressing the habits that you know to be negative to your body, such as consumption of alcohol or smoking, can actually have an effect on your hearing. Likewise, a lack of exercise is something that can negatively impact your hearing ability. As regular exercise is beneficial for your body by improving the circulation of blood, this can help tinnitus sufferers as there have been cases linked with low blood supply to the inner ear.

Therapy options

Various therapies, such as tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) are very useful in the fight against tinnitus. There are different aspects of TRT, such as utilizing a device with tinnitus-masking features. that can help the person to gradually tune out the tinnitus. Because TRT can focus on two different aspects, the sound itself, as well as the emotional reaction, the efficacy of dealing with the issue can be dealt with more comprehensively, tackling the problem itself, but also providing strategies for the sufferer in every other way. Using sound therapy to mask the internal sound of tinnitus can help to refocus the person’s attention, providing immediate relief. But what can happen over time is that sound therapy can result in the brain being “retrained” to view the tinnitus sound as something that can be ignored, such as the day-to-day noises we mask automatically. In addition to this, by using specific sounds can help to minimize a hyperactive brain which is believed to be the underlying function of tinnitus.

The other component of tinnitus retraining therapy is to focus on the emotional elements. Because tinnitus can trigger depression and anxiety, this can prove to be a more long-term problem than the actual condition. And this can be done through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can be done in a group or one-to-one, which then helps to identify specific triggers, as well as instigate lifestyle choices and coping strategies to make the condition more bearable.

As tinnitus can prove to be frustrating for your hearing ability, as well as the emotions, it’s crucial that you speak to an audiologist to identify the best course of therapy for you. As you can see, there are many ways to protect yourself from additional hearing damage caused by tinnitus. If you believe yourself to be suffering from tinnitus or any hearing related problem, you don’t need to suffer in silence. You can contact the San Francisco Hearing Center to speak to a professional and book an appointment with an audiologist who will put you on the right path.

The post Do You Need Tinnitus Therapy? appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

Behind the ear (BTE)

These are worn with a hearing aid placed on top of the ear, as well as behind the ear. The components of the device are located in the case of the back of the ear. As such, they are joined to the ear canal via a tube or tip. As this is the most common hearing aid style, there are various options available in size and color. Because the design is discreet, this is a great option for anyone looking to conceal their hearing aid. While many people can feel self-conscious about wearing one, this design can suit you perfectly allowing you to live your life without a device worn inside the ear. These devices are ideal for individuals with mild-to-profound hearing loss and can be equipped with features to help treat tinnitus.

In the ear (ITE)

ITE devices sit in the outer ear bowl and offer more privacy than a BTE hearing aid, but are easier to handle than the smaller canal counterpart. They are available in full and half shell varieties and can be selected in skin or hair tones to help them blend more naturally with your appearance. Because they are slightly larger than canal devices, they are typically more comfortable to handle by individuals with dexterity issues. These devices are suitable for individuals with mild-to-moderately-severe hearing loss and can be equipped with options to provide tinnitus relief.

In the canal (ITC)

The electronics sit in a device that fits inside your ear canal and can come in different types, including completely in canal (CIC), ITC and invisible in canal (IIC). These devices all sit within the canal, some, like the invisible option, however, are located deeper and can require an audiologist’s help to properly insert and remove. Offering more discreetness and privacy than the other options, ITC hearing aids provide a more natural hearing experience due to their location in the canal. These are most often recommended for individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and can be equipped with tinnitus features if other advanced options are not required.

Hearing aid features

Hearing aids are commonly used to treat tinnitus because they can be equipped with features that mask or override the sounds you hear. This feature, known as masking, uses white noise to cover the ringing, buzzing or whooshing you hear. While most hearing aid styles can be equipped with features to mask tinnitus, the smaller options like canal devices may not offer enough power or settings to handle all the options you want. Your audiologist will work with you to find the right technology and features to accommodate your needs. Your audiologist may also recommend tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) in tandem with hearing aid treatment. This will help you emotionally cope with the sounds you hear, which can also help alleviate your symptoms.

As you can see, hearing aids have come a long way from the old-fashioned transistor hearing aids, the digital hearing aids of the 1970s, and even ear trumpets. Hearing aids aren’t seen as the frustrating, bulky device that you have to wear around your neck or in your pocket anymore. Hearing aids can be discreet, and allow you to function in your day to day life with minimal issue. And for those who have tinnitus, this condition can be treated effectively with the right hearing aid, allowing them to function with, and minimize the problem.

If you have misconceptions about living with a hearing impairment or think that hearing aids aren’t for you, as you can see, there are plenty to choose from to suit your lifestyle. Worrying about your hearing disappearing doesn’t need to be a major concern anymore, nor should living with tinnitus. But if you have any queries, or want to discuss your options, you can call the San Francisco Hearing Center.

The post Hearing Aids for Tinnitus appeared first on San Francisco Hearing Center.

So in this article, we’re going to explain a couple of the most common signs that you’ll experience when you are due for a hearing test.

Common Signs You Need a Hearing Test:

1. Your workplace is loud but you don’t wear hearing protection

If you work somewhere noisy such as a construction site, a club, or even an airfield, then you may want to consider hearing protection if you aren’t using it already. If you’ve been working for an extended period of time and have neglected hearing protection then it’s a good idea to get a hearing test to see if you’re experiencing some level of hearing loss.

2. You find it difficult to participate in social gatherings

One of the most common signs that you’re suffering from hearing loss and need to take a hearing test is if you find it difficult to follow conversations when you’re at a social gathering. For example, you might ask people to repeat themselves or you might have trouble following a conversation when there are too many people around. The feeling of being surrounded by conversation might even frustrate or annoy you.

3. You’re suffering from tinnitus

Tinnitus is known as a ringing or buzzing sound that only you can hear. It often occurs as a result of changes in the nerves in your ear, hence why it’s commonly related to hearing loss. If you’re experiencing tinnitus then there could be a variety of different reasons why it’s happening. Hearing loss is certainly a plausible option which is why it’s a good idea to take a hearing test.

4. You’re getting comments about your hearing

“Why do you have the TV turned up so loud?”
“You want me to turn the volume higher?”
“I can hear your music from the floor below”
“Didn’t you hear me ringing your phone?

If you get comments like these on an increasingly common basis, then it could be a sign of hearing loss. People usually aren’t afraid to point out if they notice that your volume is too loud or if you fail to hear them. Don’t ignore these comments as it usually means that they’re noticed something out of the ordinary and that something could be your hearing. And a common sign that you need a hearing test.

In most cases, hearing tests take no longer than 30 minutes and they’re an excellent way to help you understand the level of your hearing and if there’s an issue that could be fixed in order to restore your hearing. Make sure you speak with your audiologist if you feel that you may be experiencing hearing loss, as even a minor problem can quickly grow especially if you aren’t aware of how easily you can damage your hearing.

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