Signs of Hearing Loss

Adults: You might have a hearing loss if you:

Socially:

  • Require frequent repetition
  • Have difficulty following conversations involving more than 2 people
  • Think that other people are mumbling or sound muffled
  • Have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like restaurants
  • Have trouble hearing & understanding women and children
  • Have your TV turned up louder than others like to listen to it
  • Answer or respond inappropriately in conversations
  • Have ringing in your ears (Tinnitus)
  • Read lips or intently watch people’s faces when they are speaking

Emotionally:

  • Feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying
  • Feel annoyed at other people because you can’t hear or understand them
  • Feel embarrassed from misunderstanding what others are saying
  • Feel nervous about trying to hear and understand
  • Withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing

Medically:

  • Have a family history of hearing loss
  • Take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs)
  • Have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems
  • Have been exposed to very loud sounds over a period of time or a single exposure to explosive noise

Source: Better Hearing Institue (http://www.betterhearing.org)

Children:

The signs and symptoms of hearing loss are different for different children. Contact your child’s physician or an audiologist if you are concerned about these or any other possible signs of hearing loss:

  • Does not turn to the source of a sound by 3-4 months of age
  • Pays attention to vibrating noises or noises that can be felt, rather than heard
  • Does not say single words, such as “dada” or “mama” by 1 year of age
  • Turns head when he or she sees you, but not if you only call out his or her name
  • Hears some sounds but not others

Souce: CDC (www.cdc.gov)