Does your family complain that you say what too often? Or that you listen to the TV too loudly? Maybe it’s time to ask yourself do I have hearing loss?

When you or someone you care about suffers from hearing loss the best way to make things better is to acknowledge the problem and see a specialist to find options to correct it. You’re not alone. Approximately 30 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, ranging from mild to severe. Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one.

Early diagnosis is key

Family members are often the first to recognize that a loved one has hearing loss.  The symptoms appear gradually and be difficult to detect. Even professional caregivers can confuse the signs and symptoms of hearing loss with other conditions. Missing opportunities for early diagnosis can increase the long-term impact of hearing problems.

If you find yourself asking, do I have hearing loss, here are some of the most common signs:

  • Turning up the volume of the television 
or radio
  • Problems hearing the doorbell or the
telephone ringing
  • Difficulty hearing people calling from
behind, or in another room
  • Asking people to repeat themselves
frequently
  • Withdrawing from or avoiding
conversations and social interactions
  • Misunderstanding or “forgetting”
what has been said or agreed upon
  • Cupping hands behind the ears

A person with normal hearing can hear quiet, medium and loud sounds that vary from low pitch to high pitch. In speech, soft consonant sounds like T, S and F are higher pitched than strong vowel sounds such as A, E and I. With hearing loss, it is difficult to differentiate between these sounds. Speech becomes harder to comprehend and sounds garbled.

If you, a friend or a family member are displaying any of these hearing loss signs, we encourage you to take the simple first step on your journey to better hearing. Southwestern Hearing makes it simple, painless and free to answer the question, do I have hearing loss? Schedule your hearing test today.