Hearing loss usually develops slowly over many years. Sudden hearing loss is often immediately evident, but gradual hearing loss can be more difficult to recognize. Some signs of hearing loss can indicate the presence of hearing loss.
One of the most recognized signs of hearing loss is the need to have to volume of television and radios turned up higher than usual. In some cases, this change can be enough for people to identify the problem.
Hearing loss causes changes in social interactions and can make social interactions more difficult. These social effects are sometimes called the social signs of hearing loss. A common social sign of hearing loss is difficulty hearing conversation in noisy environments such as on the street or in restaurants.
Difficulty understanding people may not be limited to noisy settings. Voices may generally seem muffled and the person may need others to repeat themselves. Hearing loss can affect higher frequencies which can make womens and childrens voices more difficult to hear and understand.
Mishearing people in conversations can cause the person with hearing loss to make mistakes like answering questions wrong. People with hearing loss may get into the habit of intensely watching peoples lips or faces when talking to them.
Someone with hearing loss may avoid meeting new people or social situations. They may withdraw from their friends and become isolated.
Other signs of hearing loss can be emotional. Frustration is often felt by those with hearing loss and the friends and family who have to frequently repeat themselves. The person with hearing loss may be embarrassed by their need for others to repeat themselves and by mistakes they make in conversations.
Anger and annoyance can originate from the persons need to ask others to repeat themselves and the struggle to hear them. The person with hearing loss can have increased stress and aggravation over straining to hear conversation.
Even people who have been very social may become nervous about social situations if the hearing loss has caused embarrassment or fear. The person may fear making mistakes or fear aggravating others by asking them to repeat themselves.
A gradual hearing loss could be noticed by friends and family before the person with the hearing loss recognizes the problem. Hearing loss of any kind should prompt a doctor visit to identify any physical causes for the hearing loss.
Related posts: