What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

Hearing loss signs and symptoms

Just as the causes of hearing loss vary and accumulate, the symptoms and their effects do as well. While hearing damage can sometimes be physically felt in the ears, it is primarily a sensory loss that affects us psychologically and socially.

A Grandma and her Granddaughter gardening together

First signs of hearing loss

As well as altering the volumes at which we can hear, hearing loss can also cause sound to become dull and muffled. This makes understanding speech, locating its source and picking it out against background noise tiring and frustrating. Difficulties following conversations when in meetings, on the phone or while socialising with friends can lead to feelings of embarrassment, stress, isolation, loneliness and even depression.

Some signs of hearing loss

1. Others complain the TV is turned up too loud

Whether you're watching TV, listening to music, or talking on the phone, you might think that the noise level is perfectly normal until others inform you that the volume is too high. This is a good indication your level of hearing is lower than others around you.

2. You struggle hearing in crowds

If you are having difficulty following a conversation in crowds or If you often have trouble differentiating between who’s speaking to you in a noisy environment this is an early sign of hearing loss.

3. You can't understand others

If you are misunderstanding people when they are speaking to you, this can often lead to a string of misinterpretations and can cause miscommunication between you and those you’re speaking to.

4. You're asking "What?" alot

Asking others to constantly repeat themselves is not only frustrating to those trying to tell you something, but it can start to make you feel uncomfortable as well.

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In case of hearing loss signs

Loss of hearing can also be accompanied by secondary symptoms. Hyperacusis is a heightened sensitivity to certain volumes and frequencies of sound, where as tinnitus causes ringing and buzzing in the ear when no external sound is present.
It is important to know that identifying hearing problems is not easy and that your family and friends may notice symptoms and changes in your behaviour before you do.