It may seem like it'd be obvious, but hearing loss will be gradual, so how can one know if they have it? There is no darting pain to function as a danger sign. You don't pass out or make extra trips to the restroom when it happens, either. It is safe to say the symptoms of hearing loss are more subtle than other age-related illnesses like diabetes or heart disease.
Even so, there are indications should you know what you're looking for. It is a matter of paying attention to the way you hear and the effect any change could be having on your life. Consider some ways you're able to pinpoint hearing loss for you or somebody you love.
The effect on socializing provides a number of the most telling indications. For instance, if the first word from your mouth through most discussions is "what?" That should be a sign you are not comprehending words well. Asking the people that you speak to repeat what they said is something they're very likely to detect before you do, too, so pay attention to how folks react to having conversations with you.
When talking in a group of a couple of people, you may have trouble keeping track of things. You are missing pieces of what everybody says, thus you aren't part of the conversation. You can't ask everyone talking to repeat themselves, either, so you only get lost. Over time, you avoid group discussions or stand there not understanding what's stated, since it's just too confusing when you do.
If the only thing you hear these days is background noise, then it's time to get a hearing exam. This is a frequent symptom of hearing loss because you are no longer able to filter out sounds just like a fan blowing off, or an air conditioner operating. It gets to the point at which you can not hear what people are saying to you because it becomes lost in the background noise.
It's simple to excuse the need to turn the TV volume up on that dying box because of a busy area, but when it occurs every day, it's most likely an indication of a gradual hearing loss. When everyone else starts complaining that you have the TV or computer volume too loud, you need to wonder why that is, and, probably, come to terms with the fact that your hearing is not as good as it had been at one time.
Reading lips is a compensation mechanism for missed words. Gradual hearing loss begins with the reduction of hard sounds. Words which contain specific letters will probably be faulty. Your brain might automatically refocus your eyes on the individual's lips to repair the issue. Chances are you won't even know you do it before someone tells you or suddenly seems uncomfortable when speaking with you.
The constant clicking or buzzing or the noise of breeze in your ears — this is called tinnitus, and it's an indication of significant hearing loss. These sounds are not real, but phantom sounds that just you hear. For many people, they are just annoying, but for many others tinnitus is debilitating. If you have that, then you most certainly have hearing loss you will need to handle.
Hearing problems aren't always evident to the individual experiencing them, but it is to others. Listen to what your loved ones are telling you about your hearing. Consider, also, other medical problems that can give rise to the problem such as hypertension or medication you have been prescribed that could damage your ears and discover if age-related hearing loss is a hereditary problem for you.
When you do come to this decision, see your health care provider and receive a professional hearing test for affirmation. Hearing loss is not the end of the world, but for many, it will mean it is time to think about hearing aids.