Common Signs of Hearing Loss
Difficulty communicating in noisy environments
Frequently asking for others to repeat what they said
Straining to hear someone talk or whisper
Difficulties hearing someone behind you
Having a restricted social life due to difficulty hearing and communicating
Difficulties listening in a small group of people
Trouble communicating on the telephone
Problems hearing in a large group of people
Watching a speaker's lips more closely to be able to follow the conversation
Turning the volume on the TV or radio louder than others like it.
Family, colleagues, or friends have noticed that you have difficulties hearing
The Effects of Hearing Loss and How it is Tested
Hearing loss is called the invisible disability.
Hearing impaired people live in a world where others, even their families, expect them to hear normally. They may be ignored, ridiculed, or be the target of anger from strangers, family, and friends. Stress and frustration mounts as the hearing loss progresses
There can be a detrimental psychological impact when hearing loss occurs. Some may even deny the existence of the problem, all the while becoming more overwhelmed by their inability to understand conversation. It can be exhausting trying to guess at mumbled-sounding words and trying to fill in the gaps of conversation all day long.
It is not surprising that some people with hearing loss eventually decide that they can no longer enjoy social activities. They may become withdrawn, first from friends and later from their families. Isolation, stress, and loneliness can sometimes lead to depression.
If you have noticed yourself, a friend, or loved one in this scenario, it is not too late to seek help from an audiologist. The first step is to have your hearing ability evaluated. This is done by taking a simple, painless hearing test. This examination is usually performed in a sound treated booth, which ensures that extraneous room noises will not interfere with the test. The audiologist will ask you to repeat simple words to see how softly you can hear them. Another list of words will be presented at a comfortable listening level, and you will need to repeat the words back. The test also includes listening to both treble and bass pitched tones to see how softly you can detect them. The graph of your hearing test results is called an audiogram.
If you or someone you know experiences any of these difficulties, they may have a hearing loss. Consider a hearing test by a licensed audiologist.
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