Symptoms of Hearing Loss

The signs of hearing loss can be subtle, and may emerge slowly. Or they can be significant and come on suddenly. Either way, there are common indications that you should be aware of. You should suspect hearing loss if you experience any of the signs below.

Social Symptoms

• Require frequent repetition

• Have difficulty following conversations involving more than 2 people

• Think that other people sound muffled or are mumbling

• Have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like conferences, restaurants, malls, or crowded meeting rooms

Have trouble hearing children and women

• Have your TV or radio turned up to a high volume

• Answer or respond inappropriately in conversations

• Have ringing in your ears

• Read lips or more intently watch people’s faces when they speak to you

Emotional Symptoms

• Feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying

• Feel annoyed at other people because you can’t hear or understand them

• Feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying

• Feel nervous about trying to hear and understand

• Withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing

Medical/Social History

• Have a family history of hearing loss

• Take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs)

• Have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems

• Have been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise

Common Myths About Hearing Loss

• “Hearing loss only affects “old people” and is just a sign of aging.”

  The truth is actually the reverse of what most people think. The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. There are more than six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss, and nearly one and a half million are school age. So hearing loss affects all age groups.

• “If I had a hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me.”

  This is not true. Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor’s office, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Without special training and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be difficult for your doctor to even realize that you have a hearing problem.

• “I’ll just have some minor surgery like my friend did, and then my hearing will be okay.”

  Many people know someone whose hearing improved after medical or surgical treatment. It’s true that some types of hearing loss can be successfully treated. With adults, unfortunately, this only applies to 5-10% of cases.

• “Your hearing loss cannot be helped.”

  In the past, many people with hearing loss in one ear, with a high frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage have been told they cannot be helped, sometimes by their family practice physician. While this might have been true many years ago, with modern advances in technology, nearly 95% of people with a sensorineural hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids.

• “The consequences of hiding hearing loss are better than wearing hearing aids.”

  What price are you paying for vanity? Untreated hearing loss is far more noticeable than hearing aids. If you miss a punch line to a joke, or respond inappropriately in conversation, people may have concerns about your mental acuity, your attention span, or your ability to communicate effectively. The personal consequences of vanity can be life altering. At a simplistic level, untreated hearing loss means giving up some of the pleasant sounds you used to enjoy. At a deeper level, vanity could severely reduce your quality of life.

• “Hearing aids will make me look ‘older’ and ‘handicapped.’”

  Looking older is clearly more affected by almost all other factors besides hearing aids. It is not the hearing aids that make one look older, it is what one may believe they imply. If hearing aids help you function like a normal hearing person, for all intents and purposes the stigma is removed. Keep in mind that an untreated hearing loss is more obvious than a hearing aid. Smiling and nodding your head when you don’t understand what’s being said makes your condition more apparent than a hearing aid.

What is an Audiologist?

Audiologists are primary hearing health providers who diagnose, treat and manage patients with hearing loss or balance problems. Audiologists have Doctoral or Master’s degrees, and their academic and clinical training provides the foundation for patient management from birth through adulthood.

What happens when I have a hearing test?

A comprehensive hearing evaluation will include a case history, tympanometry, acoustic immittance, pure-tone audiometry, speech tests, and acoustic emissions test (if needed). For children, a comprehensive hearing evaluation will include these, but may also have visual reinforcement audiometry or conditioned play audiometry, depending upon the age, maturity and willingness of your child to participate.

How long does a hearing test take?

Plan on a 1 hour time block for your scheduled hearing test & to review recommendations. You may also choose to schedule a return visit to discuss hearing aids.

How come I can hear but I can’t understand?

A common type of hearing loss is a high frequency loss where the low frequencies can be heard but the high frequencies cannot. With this kind of hearing loss, you can hear the voice but you don’t clearly hear consonant sounds, such as [s], [t], [ch], [sh], and [f]. So you may hear the word “sheep” instead of “cheap” or “fifty” instead of “fifteen”. If you have trouble hearing clearly in quiet it only gets worse in noisy places or when someone is across the room. That could spell trouble for many people who work in restaurants and customer service jobs or people who live in senior residences where meals are served in large dining areas.

How much do hearing aids cost?

Hearing aids range in price depending on the level of technology, the office where you purchase the aids, and the level of service the office provides. A variety of accessories are also available that enable Bluetooth capability with a variety of electronic devices.

If I’m having problems with dizziness (vertigo) but hear fine, why do I need a hearing test?

Your vestibular system and auditory system are closely related. There are some disorders/diseases of the inner ear that may cause both dizziness and hearing loss (i.e. Meniere’s disease). A hearing test provides your physician with valuable information that may help determine the cause for your dizziness or vertigo.

What is tinnitus? Can it be cured?

The classic definition of tinnitus is the perception of sound with no external source. There is no known cure for tinnitus but there are treatment options. At Karen Scott Audiology we perform tinnitus evaluations and provide treatment programs. There are a number of tinnitus treatment methods, and the appropriate method will depend on the outcome of the evaluation.

Will my insurance pay for a hearing test?

Medicare requires a referral from your physician. Many insurance companies will pay for hearing testing with a physician referral. In some cases a physician referral may not be required. It is important that you refer to your individual insurance company’s plan to determine whether a referral is warranted and whether the cost of the evaluation is covered.

Does Medicare pay for hearing aids?

No, Medicare does not cover hearing aids. However, some health insurance carriers have hearing aid benefits. It depends upon your employer’s specific contract with your health insurance. Call your insurance company and ask if your policy has hearing aid benefits. Usually the customer service number is on the back of your insurance card.