Hearing loss often occurs gradually, which means you may not realize that your hearing function has diminished straight away. However, there are common signs and symptoms that can be an indicator of hearing loss. If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing a problem with your hearing, it’s always advisable to consult a hearing health professional. In the meantime, look at these four common signs of hearing loss:
You regularly increase the volume when watching TV
If you routinely increase the volume when you’re watching TV or listening to music, it could be a sign that your hearing function is reduced. Other people may ask you to turn the TV down, even when you feel like it’s set to an appropriate level. Similarly, if you’re unable to hear the program or follow a movie when others can, it could be an indicator of hearing loss.
You miss parts of conversations
Having trouble following a conversation may be the first time you notice hearing loss. If people’s voices sound muffled or unclear, it’s well worth visiting your hearing health professional. In many cases, hearing loss can make it harder to hear things when there is lots of surrounding or background noise. If you can follow a one-to-one conversion but have difficulty hearing group conversations, this could be a sign of hearing loss.
You can hear ringing in your ears
Hearing a ringing, buzzing, whooshing or clicking sound in your ears is a classic symptom of tinnitus. Although tinnitus can occur on its own, it’s often linked to hearing loss. If you notice a constant or intermittent noise in one or both ears that isn’t from an external source, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing tinnitus, which may be caused by hearing loss.
You want to avoid social gatherings
When people experience hearing loss, they may begin to feel uncomfortable in social settings or large gatherings. If you can’t hear the conversation, for example, this may affect your willingness to participate. Fortunately, this can be easily resolved by accessing professional assistance. Once your hearing loss has been tested and diagnosed, you may be prescribed hearing aids. These will enable you to hear with increased clarity and, as a result, you’ll no longer have the desire to avoid social occasions.
What to do if you think you have hearing loss
If you recognize the signs of hearing loss, arrange an appointment with your hearing health professional. A hearing test can be carried out to determine whether you’re experiencing hearing loss, which will provide important information about the type and severity of your hearing loss. Following this, you can obtain any treatment that may be needed or access hearing devices to enhance your hearing function.
If your symptoms are due to an ear infection, treating the infection could completely resolve your hearing loss. Alternatively, if your hearing loss is on-going, wearing hearing aids can significantly improve your hearing function and enhance your quality of life.
