Hearing Loss
HEARING LOSS

How to tell if you have a hearing loss

2020-07-30 Healthy hearing is a big part of your life. Form work and socialising, relaxing or enjoying entertainment and building relationships with friends and family, we rely heavily on hearing. Yet for some reason, we often take hearing for granted and forget to keep an eye on it. Changes in your hearing are common, but it can be friends and family who notice it first.

The first step in caring for your hearing health is to keep an eye out for indications you might be developing a hearing loss. Because hearing changes slowly with age, it’s not always easy to spot the signs.

Signs of hearing loss


Here are some things to look out for if you’re worried about your hearing, or think someone close to you may have a hearing loss.
 - You often ask people to repeat themselves
 - Following along with conversations in a group is difficult
 - Others sounds are muffled or people seem to mumble
 - It’s hard to distinguish sounds in noisy places like shopping centres
 - Friends and family often tell you that you turn the TV or radio up much too loud
 - You sometimes miss doorbells or ringing phones
 - There’s a constant buzzing or ringing sound in your ears
 - Loud noises cause you more discomfort than before 

Hearing loss risks

Other health factors also put you at a higher risk of hearing loss:
 - Do you take certain medications, such as antibiotics or chemotherapy medications?
 - Do you have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems?
 - Are you regularly exposed to loud sounds, like live music or construction work?

Excessive noise can damage the delicate parts of your ear and leading to permanent harm. Listening to music for an hour with headphones at 94 decibels can cause damage. A 100-decibel chainsaw motor takes just 15 minutes. It’s important to wear proper ear protection if possible.

Doing something about it


You don’t have to put up with hearing loss. Medication, surgery, hearing aids and devices, or other tailor-made solutions can help. It’s a matter of getting the right support.

Unfortunately, we know that most people wait an average of seven years to act1. When you wait, you start adapting to a lower quality of life by modifying your behaviour. Maybe you’ve already started going out less, asking people to repeat themselves all the time, avoiding group situations or no longer taking part in activities you used to enjoy. There are other risks as well, such as missing important warning sounds like traffic or smoke alarms.

Getting your hearing checked is painless, easy and takes less than 15 minutes. Talking to a professional will help to ease your mind and help you find the right solution for you.

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