Signs of Hearing Loss
The earlier you can spot the signs of hearing loss, the faster you can take action to tackle the issue.
When you understand what’s happening with your hearing, you’re in a better position to find treatment and suitable hearing aids.
Five early symptoms of hearing loss
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you say it again?”
If you find yourself saying something like that fairly often, you may have a sign of hearing loss on your hands. You may also find that people always sound like they’re mumbling, which makes it harder to comprehend what they’re saying.
You might find it difficult to keep track of phone conversations. The other person may sound muffled. This sign can appear when you’re on the phone in both quiet and noisy locations.
The signs of tinnitus include repeated buzzing and ringing sounds in your ears. Get checked as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms.
If people often tell you that you speak loudly, that may be a sign that you’re compensating because it's hard for you to hear yourself.
The signs of hearing impairment are often gradual, meaning they develop slowly over time. They’re often difficult to notice, which is why it’s so important that you’re proactive in your effort to find them.
Hearing Loss Self-Assessment
Take our quick quiz to see if you are suffering the early signs of hearing loss
It’s often difficult to get a handle on the signs of hearing loss because they’re so gradual. Book a FREE hearing test with an audiologist from Freedom Hearing to get ahead of the issue.
Furthermore, give our quick hearing quiz a try:
- 1Do you find it difficult to follow conversations when there are four or more people present in a group?
- 2Has a loved one asked you to get your hearing tested?
- 3Do other people tend to sound like they’re mumbling?
- 4Do you often have to turn up the volume on your TV or radio so you can hear it?
Why It's Important to Diagnose It Early
Real reviews from real customers
Signs of Hearing Loss FAQs
Early signs of hearing damage include:
- You hear muffled sounds especially speech
- You find it difficult to understand words, especially if you are in a large crowd or against background noise
- You find it difficult to hear consonants
- You often ask other people to speak more loudly, clearly, and slowly
- You need to increase the volume of the radio or television
he inability to hear normally is referred to as “hearing loss.”
Hearing loss is a lifelong disorder that happens when sounds are not delivered to the brain due to damage to the hearing components of the ear.
Depending on the source, hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, and it can affect one or both ears.
Hearing loss can range from modest (also known as partial hearing loss) to severe (sometimes called total hearing loss).
People with hearing loss may be unable to understand speech unless they can discern hints from other people’s speech or body language.
It is caused by a variety of illnesses, ranging from the ordinary cold to more serious and sometimes fatal health disorders.
Most temporary hearing loss may be repaired, but some people may require a hearing aid in both ears or possibly cochlear implants to hear normally again.
There are a few ways to check if you have hearing loss. One way is to have your hearing tested by an audiologist.
An audiologist can administer a variety of tests to measure your hearing ability. Another way to check for hearing loss is to use an online hearing test, which can give you a rough idea of your hearing abilities.
Additionally, self-assessment questionnaires are available which can help identify potential hearing loss.
However, It is important to note that self-assessment questionnaires are not a substitute for a professional evaluation and should not be used to diagnose hearing loss.
Some behavioral signs of hearing loss include:
- Asking people to repeat themselves frequently
- Having difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments
- Turning up the volume on the television or radio to a level that is too loud for others
- Having trouble hearing high-pitched sounds, such as children’s voices or certain bird calls
- Avoiding social situations or withdrawing from conversations because of difficulty hearing
- Having trouble following a conversation when multiple people are talking
- Having to concentrate strenuously to hear and understand speech
- Feeling tired or fatigued more easily when listening
- Having ringing, buzzing, cicada-like sounds in the ears (tinnitus)
- It is important to note that not all people with hearing loss will have all of these symptoms and some people with hearing loss may have none of these symptoms. It is always best to consult with a professional if you suspect you have hearing loss.
Tinnitus can be a sign of hearing loss, but it is not always the case. Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head, such as ringing, buzzing, or humming, that is not coming from an external source.
It can be caused by a variety of factors, including exposure to loud noise, ear infections, certain medications, and head or neck injuries.
Hearing loss can cause tinnitus by damaging the inner ear, which can lead to changes in the auditory nerve that can cause the brain to perceive sounds that are not present.
However, not all people with tinnitus have hearing loss, and some people with hearing loss do not have tinnitus. It is always best to consult with a professional if you suspect you have hearing loss or tinnitus.
Book your FREE hearing check