How Can I Tell If I Have Hearing Loss?

Of course, the most obvious symptom is inability to hear. However, hearing loss sneaks up on people. Often family members and friends are aware of hearing problems before the hearing-impaired person. Many people in the early stages of hearing loss of this sort will find themselves:

• Asking people to repeat themselves more frequently

• Offering inappropriate answers because they have misheard a conversation or question

• Going out less and socializing less

There are many other symptoms that may be related to hearing loss:

• Increased levels of frustration and irritability are common.

• Sometimes difficulty understanding speech is more of a problem than an inability to hear speech.

• Feelings of ear fullness or pressure, ear noises (ringing, buzzing, crickets, seashells, steam, and others), and dizziness.

Hearing loss is not always slowly progressive and stable from day to day. It may be sudden, rapidly progressive, or even fluctuating (good times and bad times).