Do I have Hearing Loss?

Is your hearing as sharp as it once was? Is the volume dial on the radio creeping higher?

While it might be tempting to adopt a ‘wait and see’ attitude about hearing loss, this isn’t a good idea. Research shows seeking help while the problem is mild means you adapt more easily to a hearing aid and hear better for longer.

For those who aren’t sure if they have a problem or not, the following are signs it’s time to schedule a hearing test.

Do you find it increasingly difficult to follow a conversation?

It might be that the voices are muffled or it seems people mumble more than they used to. Whilst holding a conversation, focus in on the other speaker’s voice specifically to listen for how clear their voice is. You may find their voice sounds distant or muted, in which case it could be your ears rather than the speaker that is to blame.

Do you regularly ask people to repeat what they just said?

 If things don’t make sense the first time round, it could be you only partially heard the sentence and you need them to repeat things in order to fill in the gaps. A variation on this is if you find taking part in a conversation tiring. This may be because you have to concentrate so hard to make out what’s being said, that it’s physically draining.

Are you Last to get the Joke?

In a group situation being the last person to ‘get’ the joke can be the result of hearing loss. This is because mild hearing loss puts a greater loud on the brain to register a partially heard sentence and fill in the gaps. This means understanding a message is not instantaneous but can take a split-second longer to decode.

Especially challenging can be group situations, such as participating in a party or conversing in a place where there is background noise. If you’re not sure if it’s your hearing that’s the problem or the noise intrusion, watch to see how others in the group cope and feel the same way or not.

What about the volume of the TV or radio?

Have you started turning up the volume in order to hear the programs or has your partner complained about the volume being too loud so you feel inhibited to do so? These could be clues that you are suffering from hearing loss.

If in doubt, the easiest way to get a definite answer is to book a hearing test with an hearing care professional. Not only will you know if you have a problem, but you’ll find out if it’s mild or severe and the source of the problem. All of which places you in a much stronger place for correcting the problem and protecting your future listening health.