If you think you have a hearing loss, speak to your GP. They may refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test. If you suspect hearing loss in a family member or a friend, encourage the person to get their hearing checked.
Information about hearing loss
Below are a few pointers that may help you decide whether your hearing is impaired. A person with hearing loss may:
- Have a history of ear discharge/or perforation
- Have difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say
- Ask people to repeat themselves
- Not respond when called to or may respond inappropriately
- Speak much louder than usual
- Have difficulty hearing on the telephone
- Complain that friends/family don’t listen to them
- Become withdrawn, quiet and isolated
- Turn up the volume to hear the TV or listen to music
- Report that they can hear but cannot make out what is being said/ ‘I can hear you talking but don’t know what you’re saying’, or that others are mumbling
- Have unclear speech
- Have difficulty in hearing high frequency sounds like doorbells or telephone ringing
- Complain of a ringing sound in the ear (tinnitus)
