How to Know if You Have Hearing Loss?

One in eight people over the age of 12 in the United States has hearing loss in both ears. It is such a common problem and it will affect most of us at some point in our lives, even if you do not have complete hearing loss. Poor hearing can have a big impact on your life because it makes it difficult to interact in social situations and it can make it hard to concentrate at work. So, if you are experiencing hearing loss, you need to see an audiologist for treatment. 

However, people do not always realize when they are experiencing hearing loss because it happens gradually over time. This is a big issue because early treatment is the key to managing hearing loss and protecting your hearing as you age. It is important that you see an audiologist and have your hearing loss addressed before it progresses. 

That is why you need to be able to spot the signs of hearing loss in yourself and those around you. These are some of the best ways to know if you have hearing loss. 

Trouble speaking on the phone 

Difficulties hearing people on the phone is often one of the earlier signs of hearing loss. Although you may be able to follow a conversation in person, you might find it hard to follow on the phone because the sound quality is not as clear. You should check the volume control on your phone and if you find that you are turning it up to full, that is an indication that you are experiencing the early stages of hearing loss and you should see an audiologist. 

Trouble hearing the TV 

Are you getting complaints from your family or from the neighbors about the volume of your TV? If so, that is a very common sign that you are experiencing the early stages of hearing loss. The clarity of sound on a TV is not great, much the same as it is on the phone, so people with hearing loss will turn it right up without realizing how loud it is to everybody else around them. 

Difficulty following large conversations 

When you are talking to somebody one-on-one, you may find that you can follow the conversation, but what about when you are in a large conversation with a group of people? When there are a lot of people talking at the same time, especially if you are out in a noisy place like a restaurant or bar, people with hearing loss find it difficult to follow along. You will experience this quite a while before you start having difficulty with one-on-one conversations, so it’s something to watch out for. 

Tiredness after social activities 

Straining to hear people for an extended period can be physically and mentally draining. That is why people with hearing loss often find that they are tired after social occasions. If your job involves speaking to a lot of people all day, you may find that fatigue and headaches become more common. If you speak with an audiologist, they will be able to tell you whether your fatigue is related to hearing loss or not. 

Difficulty hearing women and children 

When people first begin to experience hearing loss, they have more difficulty hearing women and children than they do men. This is because most people experience hearing loss at a higher frequency first, so they find it more difficult to hear people with higher voices, like women and children to start with. 

Misunderstandings and arguments 

Misunderstandings and arguments are more common in people that experience hearing loss. When you misinterpret what people say or you fail to hear things completely, it often leads to misunderstandings or even arguments with the people around you. It is also common for people to argue about the hearing loss itself because the people around them notice it a lot more than they do. If you find that communication is breaking down with the people around you, that may be a sign that you are experiencing hearing loss and you need to get checked out by an audiologist. 

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it may be a sign that you are experiencing the early stages of hearing loss. You should seek the advice of an audiologist right away and they can offer you various treatments to improve your hearing and avoid further issues. 

Get in touch with ENT Physicians Inc. today at (419) 318-4987 and we can discuss potential solutions to your hearing loss issues.