5 Top Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be sudden and immediately noticeable. If you have an ear infection, wax build-up, suffer an injury or are exposed to a sudden barrage of loud noise, you might notice it straight away. However, more commonly, it is a gradual process, one that can be hard to notice for a long time. Here are some of the signs that you might need to visit an audiologist for potential hearing loss.

Certain sounds are muffled

Hearing loss does not always or present as if the volume of life has been turned down. Often it affects certain frequencies and tones that the ear picks up on. If you notice that certain sounds or voices (like low tones) are muffled without any readily available explanation, you might be suffering from a certain kind of hearing loss. Other issues might include being unable to tell where a sound is coming from.

You have difficulty comprehending speech

Changes in how you perceive speech are often some of the first noticeable signs of hearing loss. If you find yourself asking others to repeat themselves regularly, that can be a sign. Similarly, if you ask others to repeat what another said, and they show no difficulty in comprehending it, you might want to talk to an audiologist. Pay attention to where you look when others are speaking to you, too. We do it unconsciously, so we don’t always notice, but if you find that you have to look at people to understand while they’re talking to you, you may suffer from some hearing loss.

You have to turn the volume up

Similarly, you may not notice that you have been gradually forced to raise the volume on the TV, radio, or computer speakers. However, in these cases, it is often a family, friend, or loved one who will notice that you have the volume really high. If you hear such complaints but you don’t perceive the volume as being very loud, it could be time to arrange an appointment with your audiologist.

People talk about background noise that you can’t hear

Just as some sounds may be muffled, hearing loss can present as you being unable to hear certain soft sounds at all. This can include everything from the hum of a fridge to birdsong just outside your window. If someone notices a low or soft sound and you can’t perceive it or tell where it is coming from, that is one of the surest signs that you may have some degree of hearing loss.

You have difficulty hearing in loud environments

Everyone has difficulty hearing in certain environments. You’re not likely to hear regular speech at a concert, for instance. However, in social environments like restaurants or the office, having trouble hearing speech or other noises may be another sign of hearing loss.

If one or more of the signs mentioned above apply to you, you should schedule an appointment with your audiologist. The sooner you know what the situation is and what you can do to treat or prevent damage, the better.