What are signs of hearing loss?
Hearing loss can affect your life in many ways. It can make it challenging to connect with your surroundings, like engaging in a conversation in a busy restaurant or attending a live music concert. With hearing loss, you may find that you avoid social situations and lose interest in activities that you once enjoyed. The impact of hearing loss on your quality of life can be substantial. Fortunately, help is available.
Quick facts about hearing loss symptoms
- People can have hearing loss in one ear or both ears
- Hearing loss can be permanent or temporary
- It can occur suddenly (sudden hearing loss) or gradually
What are the first signs of hearing loss?
Most hearing loss happens gradually, so you may not notice it for some time. Look out for these possible first signs of hearing loss:
- You may find yourself straining to hear conversation, especially in noisy places.
- You may become tired from the effort required to listen.
- You may need to turn the TV up louder than before.
- You may notice that you have to ask people to repeat themselves.
- You may feel that you can hear but cannot always understand what you hear.
- It may seem like people sometimes mumble.
- People may say you are talking loudly.
- It may feel as though you have plugged or clogged ears.
- Your hearing is better in one ear.