Signs of hearing loss

We may notice hearing loss for the first time when we are in a crowd, such as at a party, where there is a lot of background noise, and particularly when trying to hear someone else speaking. But, there are many other common signs, such as:

• Not hearing the doorbell or a telephone ring.
• Turning the television up too loud for the comfort of others
• Not hearing people come into the room
• Misunderstanding what has been said
• Not speaking clearly or speaking in a monotonous tone
• Uncertainty about where sounds are coming from
• Difficulty in hearing at a distance e.g. in church or public gatherings.

Here are a few examples of what customers have told us about recognising the signs of hearing loss:

"I don't hear very well in meetings and group situations"

"I find restaurants and social situations challenging"

"My family and friends comment that I have misheard or misunderstood conversation"

"I find some accents difficult to follow, especially on the television or telephone."

"I find people mumble"

"Television presenters aren't trained to speak the way they used to be."

"If people spoke clearly I would be able to understand them."

"I am okay when it is a one-to-one conversation."

Listen to our customer stories about their own hearing concerns.

Recommendations:

If you find yourself agreeing with any of the above statements, you should ask for a free hearing test in order to determine how well your hearing is working and allay any concerns you might have.

It is very important to seek expert advice for any hearing concerns or hearing loss and have a full hearing assessment.  You may also want to ask about a free hearing aid demonstration.