SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS
Signs of hearing loss can affect people of all ages, with the onset usually gradual. It’s thought that at least one in six people in the UK suffer from some hearing loss symptoms, which can have an impact on their day-to-day life.
Hearing loss signs are painless and invisible, which means people don’t always recognise when they’re developing. Many people become used to an absence of reduction in sound quality without even noticing. Read on to learn more about common signs of hearing loss, and how our hearing diagnostics services may be able to help.
Experience the difference with our cutting-edge hearing services at Ear and Hearing Services. Discover how our advanced technologies and personalized care can improve your quality of life. Don’t let hearing loss hold you back – take the first step towards better hearing today with our expert team by your side. Contact us now to schedule your consultation and embark on your journey to clearer, crisper hearing.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS?
From muffled sounds to feelings of isolation, the symptoms of hearing loss can be extremely wide-ranging. If you find yourself experiencing any of the below signs of hearing loss, we recommend that you undergo a full hearing examination:
⦿ Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
⦿ Feeling as though sound is muffled, or that other people are mumbling
⦿ Talking louder than usual, and perhaps unwittingly dominating conversations
⦿ Experiencing a ringing noise (tinnitus) in one or both ears
⦿ Struggling to hear when the doorbell rings, or when you’re talking on the phone
⦿ Being unable to tell where particular sounds are coming from
⦿ Struggling to hear conversation in a crowd
⦿ Listening to TV or Radio at a very high volume
⦿ Finding men’s voices easier to understand than women’s or children’s
⦿Trouble hearing people speaking from a distance
The signs of hearing loss may also leave you feeling isolated, as you start to avoid previously enjoyable social situations due to communication challenges. This may leave you feeling irritable, and potentially even depressed. If this sounds familiar, you may benefit from support such as hearing aids.
WHAT CAUSES SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS?
The common signs of hearing loss may be attributed to excess loud noise exposure, or even genetics, but there are actually two main types of hearing loss:
⦿ Sensori-neural hearing loss – the term for damage within the inner ear and/or the auditory nerve
⦿ Conductive hearing loss – when there is damage within the middle ear, the ear drum, or the bones behind the ear drum
As a result, hearing loss symptoms can be attributed to a variety of causes, including:
HEARING DIAGNOSTICS
If you’re struggling with signs of hearing loss, hearing diagnostics can help our professionals to understand where your current hearing levels are, so we can determine the best course of action for your individual needs.
Our London Ear Centre experts will perform a number of different tests depending on what they feel is required to determine whether or not your hearing is normal. If any impairments are detected, we will advise on the best solutions available, based on your lifestyle and requirements. All hearing tests are carried out in a sound-treated booth or room, following best clinical practice recommendations, with all testing procedures explained to you before we begin to keep you fully informed.
Our hearing assessments may include the following where appropriate, depending on the hearing loss symptoms you’re experiencing:
⦿ A review of your audiological and medical history
⦿ Speech audiometry – this is used to determine the weakest intensity for word recognition
⦿ Pure tone audiometry – this is a test to identify your hearing thresholds and the extent of any hearing loss
⦿ A hearing evaluation questionnaire
⦿ Tympanometry – this is a test that examines the health of the middle ear, as well as ear drum movement
⦿ Acoustic reflexes – this assessment allows us to screen the integrity of the auditory nerve pathway