Telltale Signs Your Hearing Isn't As Good As It Was

Hearing loss is a significant problem that affects the majority of people over the age of 50. Unfortunately, however, it is also one of those conditions which is very difficult to detect. Hearing tends to decline very slowly over time, with noticeable effects taking years or even decades to materialize.

What are the tell-tale signs your hearing is letting you down, and what can you do about them? Here's everything you need to know. 

You can't understand speech when it's noisy

The first time you might have a problem with your hearing is that you can't understand what people are saying in noisy environments. Sure, you can follow a conversation when it's just you and one other person at home. But as soon as you go out to a bar or a restaurant, it becomes more difficult. 

Frequently asking people to repeat themselves

Another sign that you might have an issue with your hearing is that you are constantly asking people to repeat themselves. For example, you are saying "excuse me" or "what" all the time during conversations. Doing this once or twice is completely normal because you can mishear people and sometimes they can mumble. If it's becoming a very common occurrence and you really can't hear what they're saying, even if they're trying to be clear with you, then it's time to take action.  

Turning up the volume on the TV

If you're turning up the volume on the TV, radio, or any other device, then it's another sign that you can't hear as well as you used to be able to, and you might need hearing aids. It's actually a very good measure of hearing loss because the sound that your devices emanate at each level of volume remains consistent. For example, let's say that you had your TV on volume 10 three years ago, but now you can only hear it if it's on volume 15. That's a sign that your hearing has changed. 

Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds

Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds is another factor that might indicate that you have a problem with your hearing. Usually it's the high end of the range that goes first, with mids and lows remaining relatively easy to hear. For example, you might not be able to hear when the phone rings or when somebody rings the doorbell. You might also find it difficult to understand women and children and rely on lip-reading cues. 

Ringing and buzzing in your ears

Finally, you might experience ringing or buzzing in your ears. If you have persistent ringing, buzzing or humming that won't go away, it could be an indication that the tiny little hair-like structures in the cochlea have broken down. Tinnitus can be any persistent sound that you can hear but doesn't exist in the real environment. 

The good news is that hearing loss is very treatable and something that you can discuss with your audiologist. You'll need to do an audiogram, which tests your ability to hear across a range of sounds, and then get appropriate treatment, like hearing aids.