National Institutes of Health
HomeHealth InfoHearing, Ear Infections, and DeafnessTen Ways To Recognize Hearing Loss
Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone? Yes No
Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time? Yes No
Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high? Yes No
Do you have to strain to understand conversation? Yes No
Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background? Yes No
Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves? Yes No
Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)? Yes No
Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately? Yes No
Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children? Yes No
Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say? Yes No
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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