April 25, 2024—Hearing loss is common as people get older—it affects about half of Americans over 65. But because hearing loss happens gradually, it can be hard to spot the signs of a problem.
Hearing loss can make it harder to connect with the people around you, and it's linked to an increased risk of problems like dementia and depression—and even an increased risk of falls. Recognizing the red flags can help you get the treatment you need.
Five signs of hearing loss
According to the National Institutes of Health, AARP and other experts, certain everyday frustrations can be a sign it's time to get your hearing checked. If these situations are all too familiar, ask your doctor about getting a hearing test.
Phone calls are hard to follow. When you talk on the phone, you're often at a hearing disadvantage. With only one ear to transmit the sound and no visual cues, phone calls are a common challenge for people with hearing loss. Trouble understanding voices on the phone can reveal hearing loss that you might not have noticed yet in face-to-face encounters.
People tell you that your TV is too loud. The TV volume debate is often one of the first clues that a person has hearing loss. Turning the sound up so you can hear dialogue can mean that action scenes are loud enough to disturb the people around you.
Your conversation partners mumble too much. Hearing loss isn't like turning the volume down on the world—certain sounds may be more difficult to hear clearly than others. That often includes letters such as "s," "f," "t," "ch" and "sh," as well as high-pitched tones. The result: People sound as if they aren't speaking clearly. The mumble effect may be more of an issue when talking to children or people whose voices have a higher pitch.
It's hard to chat at group gatherings. When it's harder to hear voices clearly, it's also harder to screen out background sounds—especially the sounds of other voices. And because you might be relying on visual cues, such as facial expressions and lip movements to boost your listening comprehension, it may be hard to keep up when looking at two or more people.
Listening is tiring—and it's hard to remember the details. When your brain is working harder than usual to decode what you're hearing, listening attentively takes more out of you. That increased mental load may mean it's harder to remember what people say. And listening for long periods may leave you feeling drained.
Get help for hearing loss
Hearing what's going on around you can help you avoid these common concerns. Treatment, such as a hearing aid, can help.
If you have symptoms of hearing loss, talk to your doctor or a hearing health professional. They can test your hearing and look for possible treatments.
If they recommend a hearing aid, there's good news: Hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss have recently become available without a prescription, so you have more options than ever. Our guide to choosing a hearing aid can help you navigate your choices.
Sources
- AARP. "10 Signs of Hearing Loss You Shouldn't Ignore." https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/hearing-loss-signs.html.
- AGS Health in Aging Foundation. "Caregiver Guide: Hearing Problems." https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/caregiver-guide-hearing-problems.
- National Council on Aging. "Can Hearing Loss Affect Mental Health in Older Adults?" https://www.ncoa.org/article/can-hearing-loss-affect-mental-health-in-older-adults.
- National Council on Aging. "What Older Adults Need to Know About Hearing Loss." https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-older-adults-need-to-know-about-hearing-loss.
- National Institute on Aging. "Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults." https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-and-hearing-loss/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults.