5 Signs You Might Need a Hearing Test
Hearing is something that we often take for granted. For many people with hearing loss, the process is gradual, and hearing can begin to worsen before they realise. It takes 10 years on average for people with hearing loss to seek help. Even when they do, 45% of GPs fail to refer them on. If you’ve started to notice subtle changes in your hearing, here are 5 signs you might need a hearing test.
1. Struggling to follow conversations
If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves or saying “pardon” more often (especially in noisy places or group settings) this could be a sign of hearing loss. You might also find yourself nodding along or smiling as you’re unable to follow the conversation, but don’t want to appear rude or feel left out. It could even be as subtle as struggling to follow a conversation if you’re unable to look at someone, like when you’re driving or on the phone.
2. Turning up the volume
Another subtle sign is the TV or radio volume gradually turning up louder and louder. You might have noticed this subtle difference yourself. Or it could have been mentioned by a family member or friend when you’ve been watching or listening to something together. It might be that the volume on your phone is now at full when it hadn’t been before.
3. Muffled or distorted sounds
Specific sounds might be unclear or people may sound as though they are mumbling. You also might find that you struggle with higher pitched sounds such as children’s voices. Often people with hearing loss struggle to tell the difference between consonant sounds like S (ess), F (eff), T (tee) and P (pee).
4. Feeling tired after listening
If you’re feeling more tired than usual at the end of the work day or after a social gathering with a lot of listening involved, you might have hearing loss. People with hearing loss use extra brain power to understand what’s being said. This extra concentration can be exhausting. Fatigue from listening is real and it can be a subtle symptom of hearing loss. It’s worth keeping in mind that your tiredness could be caused by something else, and it’s worth seeing your GP if you’re concerned.
5. Tinnitus
If you’re noticing a persistent ringing, buzzing, hissing or other sound that isn’t from an external source, you may have tinnitus. Many people who have hearing loss also have tinnitus and it’s thought that a temporary or permanent change to the hearing system can cause this.
