Common Signs You Need a Hearing Test

Odd as it may sound, there is a simple truth about hearing loss that tends to occur time and again: it is incredibly difficult for individuals to detect hearing loss. When hearing begins to fade, the brain tends to seek to adapt, which means that a person can be experiencing moderate hearing loss without actively noticing the issue.

Because hearing loss often occurs gradually, you may be one of the last people to realize you are afflicted by it. Below, we’ve detailed these telltale signs, so you know what to look out for in future.

You experience headaches or tiredness after long conversations

If you are experiencing undiagnosed hearing loss, you may find that you feel tired or have a headache, after long conversations. This issue tends to present because you are having to work harder to hear someone speak. The additional effort may be subconscious, but the headaches and tiredness it can cause tend to be more noticeable.

You ask people to repeat themselves, frequently, during conversations

Everyone – regardless of age or hearing capabilities – occasionally misses a word during a conversation and has to ask the other person to repeat themselves. However, if you find this issue is happening frequently, a hearing test could be in order.

You continually turn the volume up on electronic devices

If you find yourself constantly turning the volume up on electronic media devices – such as your stereo, your TV or your smartphone – then a hearing test is a sensible next step. In particular, take note if others listening to the same device note that the volume seems to be higher than normal or take to requesting that the volume is turned down frequently.

You can no longer hear background noise

Our brains filter out a huge amount of noise every single day; for example, the sound of birds chirping or the hum of an air conditioning unit. As a result, few people notice the difference between natural filtering and a reduced hearing capacity – they’re not used to hearing background noise, so they don’t notice its absence. If, however, you actively try to hear background noise and cannot hear anything, this could be an early sign of hearing loss, so a hearing test is worth considering.

You struggle with conversations in busy places

If you find it difficult to hold a conversation in a busy location – such as a bar, restaurant or sports ground – then it may just be that the background noise is particularly loud. However, if the person you are talking does not seem to be experiencing similar issues, then it’s worth undergoing a hearing test in order to ascertain the reason behind your differing experience of the same busy, noisy location.

If you experience any of the issues described above – and especially if you are experiencing multiple issues simultaneously – then visiting a hearing health professional for a hearing test could well be worth your while.