4 Ways to Identify Hearing Loss in A Loved One

Hearing loss can affect anyone but is especially common among older people. Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize when they have started to develop hearing loss and, often, it’s up to friends and family to notice. This is especially true if the hearing is declining at a very gradual rate. 

If you suspect that hearing loss has started to affect a loved one, but are unsure about it, here are some ways to spot it. You may wish to have a frank conversation with them to recommend an audiologist.

Increased Volume or Sudden Reliance on Subtitles

Many people like to use subtitles while watching television, so it’s not necessarily a sign of hearing loss. However, if your loved one has only recently started using the subtitles, it may suggest that they’re having trouble hearing what’s going on.

Another noticeable difference may be that they’ve started to increase the volume of their television set or their radio. People usually have a set volume that they stick with unless hearing things has become more difficult. You may spot them repeatedly increasing the volume, or you might notice that the television or radio is unusually loud. Even if you don’t notice their television or radio volume, they may mention that “things are quieter than they used to be”, or have a similar complaint.  

Leaning While Trying to Hear Something

Some people lose their hearing more in one ear than the other, which means that they may lean in a certain direction when they’re trying to listen to something. They might not even notice this habit, but it’s a sign that they are struggling with their other ear. 

Loss of hearing in one ear also makes it harder to tell where a sound is coming from or to focus on a single sound in a busy area. It can also be harder to tell how loud a sound is, as your brain needs to use both ears to accurately detect volume. So, they may speak louder without realizing it. 

Difficulty Keeping Track of Conversations

As someone loses their hearing, different pitches become more difficult to hear. This can include ordinary conversational pitches, which makes it harder to pay attention during conversations. There are several different signs of this.

The most obvious sign is that your loved one asking you to repeat yourself often. They may also misunderstand conversations, or even laugh, smile, or react at inappropriate places during the conversation. 

Your loved one might also simply shrink back in social situations because it’s harder to keep track and pay attention to what’s going on around them. If they don’t know what the conversation is about or what’s being said, then they could disengage. 

Less Active in Noisy Places

A particularly common issue with hearing loss is that it becomes much more difficult to hear things in noisy places. Even if they seem to be able to easily carry a conversation or hear things in most scenarios, a crowded restaurant or bar is another thing entirely. 

Even familiar restaurants or bars that they’re usually comfortable in can become an issue as they drown out conversations.