If you’re experiencing problems with your hearing and you’re not sure what’s happening, you’re in the right place. You might be wondering whether you’re just hard of hearing or whether you’re going deaf and experiencing significant hearing loss. How do you tell the difference between those two things?

There are differences between them and things you can look out for that might tell you that your hearing is in decline and that you’re experiencing genuine hearing loss. We’re going to talk about some of those signs, as well as how to look after your hearing and better and what to do if you’re concerned about hearing loss. Find out more below.

You ask people to repeat themselves more often

One of the first things you’ll start to notice if your hearing is declining is that you have to ask people to repeat what they’re saying more than you used to. This is something that you yourself might not notice all that often. But if other people raise the issue with you and point out that you’re doing this a lot, it might be time to take notice of that.

A change in your behavior generally suggests that something has changed with regards to your hearing. It could mean that you are experiencing hearing loss so that’s something to take seriously. It’s signs like this that are easier to spot than the actual change in hearing that you’re experiencing.

You’re requiring higher volumes

If you’re someone who listens to the radio and watches the TV, one of the things you might also notice if your hearing is in decline is a need to turn the volume up higher than you used to in the past. It’s a classic sign that your hearing is failing and that something should probably be done about it. 

The volume output of the TV or the radio that you’ve used for a long time probably hasn’t changed, so the only variable that can be changing is the quality of your hearing. When you can’t hear something clearly, you turn up the volume, so this is definitely a sign that you should look out for if you’re concerned about your hearing.

Difficulty understanding what is being said in noisy locations

One of the things that not everyone knows about hearing loss is that it can often manifest itself in the form of an inability to understand what’s being said in noisy locations. When there are lots of sounds in one place, people with hearing loss can often fail to pick out specific sounds and focus in on them, even if they want to and try to.

It’s one of the most frustrating things about hearing loss. You want to focus on what people are saying but other sounds create a sense of distraction that can’t be ignored. As a result of this, people with hearing loss can often struggle in social situations. Some people have to start trying to read people’s lips to stay up with the conversation.

How to look after your hearing better

There are lots of things you can do to start looking after your hearing better, whether you’re experiencing hearing loss or not. For a start, you should try to make sure that you don’t expose your ears to loud noises. If you are going to be in a situation where there are loud noises, it’s important to use ear protection.

You should also have your hearing tested regularly to make sure any problems are discovered at the soonest possible opportunity. You should also have your ears cleaned professionally and avoid putting things such as cotton buds in your ears because this can cause former damage.

See an audiologist

If you have any concerns and want to make sure your hearing is properly protected, you should see an audiologist. They’ll be able to make sure you’re properly taken care of and that you get the treatment you need when you need it.

A member of our team of audiologists will be more than happy to see you and carry out a hearing test to see whether you’re experiencing hearing loss or not.

When you’re experiencing the symptoms associated with hearing loss, it can be scary and bewildering. But rather than worrying and trying to self-diagnose, it’s important to meet with an audiologist who can help you get to the bottom of your problem. That way, the problem can be treated, and your hearing loss combatted effectively. Get in touch to meet with an audiologist from our team. For further information on hard of hearing or going deaf contact a team member Awender Audiology at 815-235-3277.