Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Last updated December 2020
Is it difficult to hear programs on the TV or content on your tablet or computer, so much so that family members often ask you to turn it down? Do you struggle to understand cashiers at stores and waiters in restaurants? Is it difficult to follow conversations at large gatherings? If so, it might be time to get your hearing checked.
You’re not alone. About 10 percent of Americans have some hearing loss, and the figure is over 30 percent for persons over age 65. It can be a normal part of the aging process and, for many, an inevitable result of living in a noisy society.
If you answer “yes” to some of these questions, it’s time to get your hearing checked.
- Do I often ask people to repeat themselves? Do people often seem to be mumbling? Do I have trouble understanding speech in noisy places?
- Do I often feel tired or stressed during conversations?
- Do I often misunderstand conversations? Do I not get jokes because I miss too much of the story?
- Do I turn up the volume of speakers so high while watching TV or listening to music that others complain?
- Do I find myself using closed captioning when watching TV to understand dialogue?
- Do I find that when I look at people I can more easily understand what they are saying?
- Do I notice hearing better with one ear vs. the other when on the phone?
- Do I have tinnitus (ringing or other noises heard internally in the ear)?
- Do my ears seem blocked or sounds seem dull or muffled?
- Have I worked in a loud environment or attended numerous loud concerts?
