People who are experiencing hearing loss may show signs of hearing loss even if they are not aware that their hearing is becoming impaired. Because hearing loss can have a gradual onset, the person may not notice the slight changes in hearing ability at first.
Setting the volume on the television or radio higher than usual and having difficulty understanding speech are common signs of hearing loss. Because the hearing loss may make it more difficult to understand conversations, especially in noisy environments, the person may need to ask people to repeat themselves more often than usual.
A sign of hearing loss may be turning the head so that one ear is facing the sound. This is common if the hearing loss is worse in one ear or only affects one ear. If the person has hearing loss in one ear, the person may have difficulty identifying the sources of sounds.
Some consider irritability to be a sign of hearing loss. Irritability is not necessarily a sign of hearing impairment, but it may be. Hearing loss can cause frustration at not being able to hear as well as they could before the hearing impairment. The person may feel isolated or frustrated about having to ask people to repeat themselves during conversation.
A sign of hearing impairment may be a change in the person’s activities. If the person used to enjoy television, music, or other auditory activities and cannot enjoy them as much as before, the person may experience a sense of loss or even depression.
Signs of hearing impairment in infants and young children include a lack of response to loud noise, delays in language development, and lack of interest in toys that make noise. A person naturally tries to locate the source of sound. Infants with normal hearing will often turn their heads towards sounds. An infant with a hearing impairment may not do this. Children with hearing loss may have difficulty following verbal instructions or paying attention.
Complaints of ringing in the ears can be a sign of hearing loss. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is sometimes a symptom of hearing loss. If someone suspects that someone they know has a hearing loss, a hearing test and treatment should be encouraged. Some people resist the need for hearing loss treatment, but there are hearing aids that are incredibly discrete which may improve the person’s quality of life.