Hearing loss is no joke. It can severely impact your relationships, daily activities, and self-esteem. You may find yourself getting frustrated, and might be at a loss for what to do next.

For many people, getting hearing aids is the perfect fix for their hearing impairment. It doesn’t cure the fact that your hearing is deteriorating, but it can make the situation tolerable. Some people even feel that their hearing is better than ever with the use of the hearing device. If you are wondering if you need a pair of the devices or not, there are a few things to look out for.

You might notice that while on your phone, your volume is turned all the way up. If it is and you still can’t hear, there might be a problem. You might find yourself constantly asking someone to repeat themselves during the phone call. If this sounds like something that you constantly deal with, you’re probably developing hearing loss. But don’t worry, the hearing aids will be able to treat that.

It’s understandable that it’s hard to hear someone while they’re whispering. Most people have to focus really hard on listening to someone speaking with a softer voice, even if they aren’t losing their hearing. However, if you can never hear anyone whispering, even in the privacy of their own home, it might be time to go in for a hearing test. The hearing test will reveal if you actually have poor hearing, or if the person just simply needs to speak louder. The hearing test will also be able to inform you if you need hearing aids or not.

Nowadays, electronic devices are a big part of everyone’s lives. Many people will use their devices as a replacement for an alarm to wake them up in the morning or to alert them to other things. These alarms are often in the form of loud beeps, whistles, and sirens. If you notice that you can’t hear these things, for one, you’re going to be late for work, and you’re probably suffering from high-frequency hearing loss. This type of hearing loss can also be band-aided with the use of hearing aids, so reach out to your doctor if this is the case for you.

If you think you need a hearing aid, chances are you probably do. But rest assured that the devices are extremely common and nothing to worry about. In fact, over 10 million people in the United States use hearing aids. Reach out to your doctor for a hearing test and for more information.