Hearing loss sometimes happens very rapidly, but it is more often a slow process, so much so that you may not realise it is happening. This can be alienating and distressing, as you may wonder why you struggle to orient yourself or hold conversations, but there are a number of checks you can carry out to ensure that your hearing is still in optimal condition. We’ve taken some tips from hearing experts Amplifon and chosen what we think are the best indicators of hearing loss.

Conversation

Your hearing may have deteriorated if you find it hard to hold a conversation in a busy place, like a restaurant, or if you tend to watch people’s lips while they speak. You might frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves, or even miss out on jokes because you didn’t catch the whole punchline. Children’s voices can be difficult to distinguish, as higher pitches are harder to hear, especially when your hearing is affected. Of particular frustration is if it is affecting your work – if you need to ask colleagues about the details of a conversation or meeting you attended, you may be straining too much to hear conversations.

Surroundings

If you have trouble working out where noises and sounds are coming from, this is usually a good indicator of some hearing problem. A good trick to try is to close your eyes, and focus on what you can hear – do you think you would be able to distinguish where you are from what you can hear around you? You might also be finding it difficult to hear the telephone or the doorbell – and family members might start turning your TV down when they enter the room!

If you are concerned about your hearing, head to your local hearing centre and have a hearing test – it’s easy, non-intrusive, and could change the way you live your everyday life!