The signs
of hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or they can be significant and
come on suddenly. Either way, there are
common indications.
Socially,
individuals with hearing loss may: •
require frequent repetition •
have difficulty following conversations
involving more than two people • think that other people sound muffled or like
they're mumbling • have difficulty hearing in noisy situations,
like conferences, restaurants, malls, or crowded meeting rooms • have trouble hearing children and women • keep the TV or radio turned up to a high volume • answer or respond inappropriately in
conversations • have ringing in their ears • read lips or more intently watch people's faces
when in conversation.
Emotionally,
individuals with hearing loss may: •
feel stressed from straining to hear what others
are saying •
feel annoyed at others because they can't hear
or understand them •
feel embarrassed to meet new people or from
misunderstanding what others are saying • feel nervous about trying to hear and
understand • withdraw from social situations that they once
enjoyed Medically,
individuals with hearing loss may: •
have a family history of hearing loss •
take medications that can harm the hearing
system (ototoxic drugs) • have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid
problems •
have been exposed to very loud sounds over a
long period or single exposure to explosive noise.
