Why Pretending to Hearing Doesn’t Help

We have all pretended to hear. Especially in environments that are harder to hear in – noisy restaurants, parties, and other social settings. But pretending to hear regularly can indicate hearing loss, a medical condition that reduces capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound. Over 48 million people experience hearing loss which can strain hearing and communication. To cope, people often pretend to hear to get through a conversation. This can impact hearing and health in significant ways. It can worsen hearing loss which has multifaceted effects on everyday life. If you find yourself pretending to hear often, it is important to have your hearing assessed and treated. 

Impact of Pretending to Hear

At the moment, pretending to hear seems like the best option when experiencing hearing challenges. People may not want to interrupt the speaker, disclose their hearing loss, or they might not know they are experiencing hearing loss. People can rely on using this strategy and this can have significant effects including: 

• Straining communication: pretending to hear to get through a conversation can take a toll on communication. It impacts your ability to adequately respond and engage with others. You may feel confused or lost during conversations, experience miscommunication, and interactions can become unpleasant. 

• Affecting relationships: communication is integral to healthy relationships. Pretending to hear can deteriorate the quality of conversations. People often report feeling unheard or ignored by their loved one with hearing loss. This can produce tension, frustration, and distance in relationships. This can impact spending quality time adn enjoying daily activities. 

• Worsening hearing loss: pretending to hear is often used as a coping mechanism. People use it to get through conversations and social settings. This can delay treating hearing loss which worsens impairment and the impact it has on everyday life. 

Pretending to hear can take a toll on communication, relationships, and hearing health. If you find yourself pretending to hear frequently, it is important to have your hearing health evaluated. 

Recognizing Early Signs of Hearing Loss 

In addition to pretending to hear, there are several signs to watch for. Being aware of these signs can help you identify hearing loss, supporting early intervention adn treatment. Common hearing loss symptoms include: 

• Tinnitus: a ringing or buzzing noise in one or both ears that only you can hear. 
• Sounds are slurred, muffled, or distorted. 
• You struggle to keep up with conversations, especially in places with background noise. 
• Hearing over the phone is especially difficult. 
• Frequently asking others to repeat what they said, speak louder, and/or slower. 
• Responding with “huh” or “what” often. 
• Moving to quieter space to hear. 
• Being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other. 
• Increasing the volume on your TV or other electronic devices. 
• Feeling drained or tired after conversations adn social interactions. 

These symptoms can be mild to severe, taking a toll on hearing and communication. To cope, people often avoid conversations as much as possible. Social withdrawal is a major symptom of hearing loss. This impacts relationships, social connection, and mental health. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is important to get your hearing assessed by a hearing healthcare specialist. 

Diagnosing & Treating Hearing Loss

The first step towards treating hearing loss is having your hearing health evaluated. Hearing tests involve a painless and noninvasive process that measures hearing capacities in both ears. This identifies any hearing loss and the degree of impairment you could be experiencing. Once your hearing needs are established, your hearing healthcare provider is able to tailor treatment to meet those needs. 

Hearing aids are the most common treatment. These electronic devices are designed to absorb, amplogy, and process speech as well as sound. This provides the ears and brain with significant hearing support which alleviates hearing loss symptoms and maximizes hearing capacity. Hearing aids enable people to hear adn communicate with greater ease, offering countless life-changing benefits. This includes stringing communication, relationships, social life, and overall health. Hearing aids strengthen cognitive functions and boost brain health, increase spatial awareness and safety, and enable people to live active lives. 

Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation. This is a great way to really prioritize your hearing health and wellness.