Common Signs You Have Hearing Loss

Many people believe that hearing loss is relatively simple to identify. If you cannot hear correctly, then surely, that is the only sign you need – the problem is immediately recognized and you can immediately consult with a hearing health professional for further advice. However, hearing loss tends to develop incredibly gradually. While most people would immediately notice and identify hearing loss if they went to sleep hearing well and awoke the next morning hearing very little, the gradual change of hearing loss is far more difficult to identify. As a result, it can be helpful to know the signs of hearing loss, as we have outlined in more detail below.

Sound appears muffled

Hearing loss does not necessarily mean that you cannot hear anything – instead, early hearing loss tends to mean that the clarity of sound is lost. As a result, you may find that you can still technically hear sounds, but they are more muffled. This issue is commonly experienced when listening to someone speak.

You find that you are asking people to repeat themselves frequently

While it’s normal to mishear the occasional word or sentence, if the issue is persisted, then this could be a sign that you are experiencing hearing loss. It’s worth noting that your friends and family may notice this issue before you do, so it’s worth asking for their opinion to see how their experience aligns with your own.

You develop headaches after using the phone

If you are experiencing hearing loss, phone conversations become all the more challenging – the quality of sound is already low and hearing loss exacerbates this issue. As a result, you may find that you frequently develop a headache following a phone conversation; this can be a sign of a kind of mental exertion, as you have essentially had to ‘work’ harder to hear each word.

You develop tinnitus

If you hear sounds – such as ringing, buzzing, whistling or beeping – that are not actually there, then this could be a sign you are experiencing tinnitus. Tinnitus can be caused by conditions other than hearing loss, but the two conditions frequently present together; as a result, if you do develop tinnitus, then this should always be investigated further.

You find multi-person conversations challenging

If you are experiencing hearing loss, your ability to follow conversations will be at least somewhat compromised in many situations – but this issue is often particularly noticeable if conversing with two or more people. If you find you lose the thread of the conversation in such a scenario, then this may be a sign of hearing loss. Most forms of hearing loss occur very gradually, which can make it very difficult to notice that you are experiencing issues in this regard. By knowing the signs of hearing loss and visiting a hearing health professional should any of these signs develop, you can be sure you are in good hands regarding the management of your hearing health both now and in the future.