Have you been struggling to hear? Millions of Americans have hearing loss, but only 1 in 3 people who need hearing aids are wearing them. Learn how to identify the signs of hearing loss so you’ll be ready to look after your hearing health.
Common Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss often creeps up on us, and you may not notice how much your hearing has changed. Your ears and brain work hard to help you hear, and you may accommodate for your hearing loss by subconsciously turning your good ear towards a sound, or just turning up the volume on the TV.
Your family members may actually be the first to notice that you’re not hearing as well as before. Some of the most common symptoms of hearing loss that you or your family may notice include:
- Mishearing what’s being said
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Asking people to speak more clearly
- Having a hard time following group conversations
- Struggling to hear on the phone
- Turning up the volume on the radio or TV
- Missing the beeping of the alarm clock or the microwave buzzer
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms of hearing loss, or your family has pointed them out to you, it’s time to take your hearing loss seriously. Schedule a hearing test as soon as possible to learn more about your hearing loss.
Avoiding Social Situations
Another common sign of hearing loss is avoiding social situations. You already have difficulty following one-on-one conversations, but it’s much harder to hear when there are several people talking at once. All the background noise at a party or restaurant can make it very difficult to hear. You feel bad interrupting your friends to ask them to repeat themselves, and you may feel frustrated or embarrassed that you can’t hear. A common sign of hearing loss is cutting out social activities, and choosing to stay home.
Changing Interests
As your hearing changes, you may notice your interests changing. You used to love going to movies and having drinks with friends at the bar. Now you’ve started spending more time alone, or picked up some quieter hobbies. When you have hearing loss it’s hard to hear what’s being said on screen, and you miss some major plot points. You also struggle to follow conversations in the crowded bar, making you feel embarrassed when you can’t hear what your friends said. It’s great to try new things, but if you’re avoiding doing things you used to love, you may have hearing loss.
Blaming Others for Your Hearing Loss
It can be hard to admit, or even realize, that you’re having a hard time hearing. A common sign of hearing loss is blaming others when you can’t hear. As your hearing changes, you might think that your family has started mumbling. After all, they didn’t always speak so softly! If everyone around you is mumbling, it’s time to consider that maybe the problem is in your ears.
Answer These Questions
Ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself:
- Are you avoiding social events you used to love?
- Do you feel embarrassed about your hearing abilities?
- Do you pretend to understand your friends during a noisy dinner even though you don’t know what they’ve said?
- Do you have trouble hearing in places with a lot of background noise?
- Have you been sleeping through your alarm?
- Has your family been complaining that the TV volume is too high?
- Do you avoid answering the phone because it’s too hard to hear the other person?
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you probably have a hearing loss. Identifying the signs of hearing loss is the first step towards treating your hearing loss and getting back to effortless hearing.
Treating Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss, it’s time to do something about it. Hearing loss affects 48 million Americans, and it’s having a negative impact on your health and your social life. You don’t have to be embarrassed by your hearing loss! If you can identify these signs of hearing loss, you’re on your way to better hearing. Find the right pair of hearing aids and be confident in your hearing.