It’s not always easy to recognize the symptoms of hearing loss. If you find that you’re turning up the volume on your TV more often than before or that your colleagues at work seem to be mumbling a lot, then you may be experiencing the first signs of hearing loss.

Hearing loss can creep up on you gradually or it can strike suddenly overnight; there’s no telling which pattern it may take. There are, however, some signs to look out for, in order to ascertain whether or not you may be suffering from hearing loss:

- You struggle to understand what people around you are saying
- You need to turn the volume up high on your TV or your radio
- You ask people to repeat themselves frequently
- When someone is talking to you, you find yourself reading their lips to make out what they’re saying
- You find that there’s a ringing in your ears
- You frequently misunderstand what’s being said

The consequences of suffering hearing loss can be profound and far-reaching, ranging beyond the obvious physical impairment. People experiencing hearing loss tend to shun social gatherings, due to the embarrassment and stress they feel when struggling to understand what others are saying. This leads to social isolation and a feeling of aloneness. There is increased fatigue and stress, along with strain in personal relationships from misunderstandings that can arise from not being able to understand what’s being said. As a result, there is a tendency to try and avoid meeting new people as well. Far from being a minor irritant, hearing loss in any stage can be devastating.

Although there’s no telling if hearing loss can happen to you, you may be more susceptible to it if:

- There is a history of hearing loss in your family
- If you’ve taken any medication which has been proven to harm your hearing, such as amino glycoside antibiotics, some aspirins, some chemotherapy agents e.g. cisplatin, carboplatin, vincristine
- You’ve been exposed to loud noise over an extended period of time without any hearing protection
- You suffer from diabetes, thyroid problems, heart and circulation problems

For more information, you should contact your doctor or your local ear specialist.

Sources: Better Hearing Institute, FreeHearingTest.com, Dictionary.com, LLC