Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss occurs in most people as they age. It is not always easy to notice at first. That is why many people have a difficult time believing and accepting, that they have a hearing loss. People might begin turning up the volume on the TV, or asking other people to repeat themselves.

When their hearing starts to fade, people tend to forget how things sound. They start to live in a quieter world, unaware that they are missing the softer sounds of everyday life, like the pattern of rain on the roof or the sound of birds singing.

The most typical symptoms for adults are listed below:

- They may feel that people mumble a lot and do not speak clearly.
- They hear people talk but have difficulty understanding some of the words.
- They frequently ask people to speak up or repeat themselves.
- They may have difficulty understanding women and children’s voices.
- They may have difficulty hearing someone call from behind or from another room.
- They find it hard to hear in noisy environments, for example in a restaurant or in a car.
- They need to watch a speaker’s lips more closely to follow the conversation.
- They have difficulty following a conversation when they’re in a group of people, in a meeting, at church, or during lectures.
- They may have a hard time understanding in a crowd.
- They may have the TV or radio turned up to an uncomfortably high level for their spouse, relatives, and friends.
- They may favor one ear over the other.
- They may have problems hearing clearly on the telephone.
- They may have difficulty hearing at the theatre or other entertainment venues.
- Family, friends, or colleagues mention that they often have to repeat themselves.
- They have begun to limit their social activities due to difficulty hearing and communicating.
- They may seem withdrawn, isolated, depressed or irritable.