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Ten Ways To Recognize Hearing Loss

10 Ways to recognize hearing loss

The following questions will help you determine if you need to have your hearing evaluated by a medical professional:

Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
     

Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
     

Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
     

Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
     

Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
     

Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
     

Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
     

Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
     

Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
     

Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?
     

          

If you answered "yes" to three or more of these questions, you may want to see an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist) or an audiologist for a hearing evaluation.

The material on this page is for general information only and is not intended for diagnostic or treatment purposes. A doctor or other health care professional must be consulted for diagnostic information and advice regarding treatment.

Excerpt from NIH Publication No. 01-4913

For more information, contact the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse.

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National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Celebrating 20 years of research: 1988 to 2008