Losing Your Hearing

Health Tips About Hearing Loss

There are several warning signs to watch for, if you're worried about losing your hearing.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders, you may have hearing loss if you experience three or more of these symptoms:

• You have problems hearing over the telephone.
• You have trouble following the conversation when two or more people talk at the same time.
• People often complain that you turn up the volume too high on the television or radio.
• You have to strain to understand conversation.
• You have trouble hearing when there's lots of background noise.
• You often find yourself asking people to repeat themselves.
• Many people you talk to seem to mumble or speak unclearly.
• You misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately.
• You have trouble understanding the speech of women and children. Women and children typically speak in higher frequencies, which often are the first frequencies to be affected by noise-induced hearing loss.

If you answered "yes" to three or more of these questions, you may want to see an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist) or an audiologist for a hearing evaluation.

The material on this page is for general information only and is not intended for diagnostic or treatment purposes. A doctor or other health care professional must be consulted for diagnostic information and advice regarding treatment.

Visit the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders' hearing loss information center for more information about hearing loss.