Symptoms and Signs of hearing loss

Many people hardly notice that they have hearing loss, as the signs of hearing loss are very gradual, and are often first noticed by family, friends or through a hearing test. Those who have been exposed to high levels of noise while working with tractors, machinery in factories or who use firearms or power tools without proper ear protection will most likely suffer from hearing loss.

A sign of hearing loss can also be noticeable when a person begins to feel nervous tension, irritability or fatigue that is a result of making an effort to hear properly. When it seems that people are mumbling or people do not seem to be speaking clearly, one can safely assume that it is a first sign of hearing loss.

In social situations, when one may need to strain one to hear and understand what is being said, or one may often times misunderstand what is being said, or require the words to be repeated, or need to watch the speaker’s face intently while listening one can be sure that these are other sure signs of hearing loss.

Pay Attention to Your Hearing Levels
While watching TV or listening to the radio, one may need to increase the volume to a point where others begin to complain about its loudness, or having a family history of hearing loss, or having diabetes, heart, thyroid as well as circulation problems are some of the other signs of hearing loss. In addition, when a person suffers from recurring ear infections, has constant ringing in the ears or feels dizziness or has been exposed to ototoxic drugs and medications one may adduce them to being signs of hearing loss.

There are many people that have difficulty in hearing, or even accepting that they have a hearing problem, and they often feel embarrassed when they meet new people, and it may result in their visiting friends less often, and maybe foregoing the family reunion or neighborhood chit-chat – just because they have a hearing loss problem. A sign of hearing loss is also noticeable in people that begin to feel depressed with their inability to hear properly.

In particular, parents need to be very alert to signs of hearing loss in their children and need to discuss it with a pediatrician, and get a treatment sorted out before the condition worsens. One can be sure that it is a sign of hearing loss when a person fails to startle when loud noises occur, or fails to turn in the direction of the sound. Not heeding these signs of hearing loss in young children and infants can have serious consequences, and result in slow learning curves as well as difficulty in understanding speech plus inattentiveness that is especially bad for school going children.

Next article: Sudden Hearing Loss Causes