Signs & Symptoms of Hearing Loss

woman listening to sea shell

Hearing loss that comes on little by little as you age, also known as presbycusis, is common. More than half the people in the United States older than age 75 have some age-related hearing loss.

There are three types of hearing loss:

• Conductive, which involves the outer or middle ear.

• Sensorineural, which involves the inner ear.

• Mixed, which is a mix of the two.

Aging and being around loud noises both can cause hearing loss. Other factors, such as too much earwax, can lower how well ears work for a time. You usually can't get hearing back. But there are ways to improve what you hear.

Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Symptoms of hearing loss may include:

• Muffling of speech and other sounds.

• Trouble understanding words, especially when in a crowd or a noisy place.

• Trouble hearing the letters of the alphabet that aren't vowels.

• Often asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly.

• Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio.

• Staying clear of some social settings.

• Being bothered by background noise.

• Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.

If you feel any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to consult our audiologist.