The symptoms of hearing loss can be subtle and develop slowly, or occasionally they can come on very suddenly. Regardless, there are signs and symptoms common to both. If you experience any of the signs below you might have a hearing loss.
You might have hearing loss if you:
Socially:
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ask people to repeat themselves
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have difficulty following conversations with more than two people
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think that people sound muffled or like they're mumbling
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have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like conferences, restaurants or crowded meeting rooms
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have trouble hearing children and women
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have your TV or radio turned up
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answer or respond inappropriately in conversations
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have ringing in your ears
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read lips or more intently watch people's faces when they speak with you
Emotionally:
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feel stressed from straining to hear what others are saying
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feel annoyed at other people because you can't hear or understand them
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feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying
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feel nervous about trying to hear and understand
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withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing
Medically:
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have a family history of hearing loss
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take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs)
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have been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise
If any of the above sound familiar to you, or describe someone close to you, a hearing assessment is recommended.
