You Should Get a Hearing Test if You Observe Any of These 7 Signs

Man carrying freshly harvested bananas on his back.

Bananas don’t taste like they once did. That’s because today’s banana farmers grow a really different type of banana then they used to. Today’s banana can develop easily in a large number of climates, are more resilient, and can sprout faster. And they taste quite different. So how did this swap happen without us noticing? Well, the truth is that it happened slowly, over time. The change was so slow you never noticed.

The same thing can happen with your ears and hearing loss. It isn’t like you wake up one day and can’t hear a thing. For the majority of people, hearing loss progresses gradually, often so slowly that you don’t really recognize what’s taking place.

Early treatment can really help preserve your hearing so that’s an unfortunate truth. You can take steps to safeguard your hearing if you’re aware that it’s at risk. That’s why it might be important to watch for these seven signs your hearing could be waning.

You should get your hearing tested if you experience any of these 7 signs

Hearing loss develops gradually and over time, but it isn’t always well grasped. It’s not as if you’ll be totally unable to hear the day after you went to that big rock concert. Damage to your hearing (from that rock concert and other loud noises) increases over time. The sooner you manage your hearing loss, the better off you’ll be. Neglected hearing loss has been connected to a greater danger of problems like dementia, social solitude, and depression, so it’s not something you should mess about with.

These seven indicators are what you should be watching out for. A hearing test is the only way to know, but perhaps these warning signs will motivate you to take some early action.

Sign #1: You keep cranking up the volume on your devices

Do you find yourself constantly reaching for the volume controls? Sure, possibly it’s just that all of your favorite actors and artists have started mumbling, or that the audio mixing on TV shows is dramatically different than it was before. But it's more likely that you're compensating for your increasing hearing loss by cranking the volume up on your devices.

If others keep telling you the TV is too loud this is particularly likely. They can often recognize hearing trouble in you faster than you can.

Sign #2: You failed to hear your phone ringing (or the doorbell)

It could be a sign that you're having hearing issues if you are constantly missing day to day sounds. A few of the most ordinary sounds you may miss include:

  • Your doorbell (or a knock on the door): You thought your friend unexpectedly walked into your house but actually missed his knocks.
  • Alarms and timers: Did you sleep through your alarm clock ringing? Did the dinner get overcooked? It may not be your alarm’s fault.
  • Your phone: Text messages coming to you but you're missing them? No one calls nowadays, so you’re more likely to miss a text message than a call.

If your loved ones have pointed out that they’re a little scared of driving with you because you miss so many everyday sounds (from honking horns to the beeping of a truck backing up), that could be a sign that it’s time for a hearing assessment.

Sign #3: You keep asking people to repeat what they said

Is “What?” or “Pardon?” your most regularly used words? It's likely that it's an issue with your hearing that's causing you to need people to repeat themselves when they're talking with you. This is particularly relevant if people do repeat what they said and you still don't hear what they're saying. Definitely, time to get a hearing exam.

Sign #4: It sounds as if everybody's always mumbling

This one goes pretty well with #3 and we may even call it #3-A. You should realize that people most likely aren't mumbling or talking about you under their breath even if your hearing loss is making it feel like this. It's stressful to always think people are mumbling about you, so it may be a comfort to find out they're actually not. The reality is that you're simply not hearing them due to your loss of hearing.

This can be particularly noticeable if you’re attempting to listen to somebody who has a higher pitched voice, or if you have to have a conversation in a loud space, like a restaurant.

Sign #5: Family members encourage you to get a hearing test (or get hearing aids)

Your family and friends most likely know you quite well. And some of them probably have healthy hearing. If your family members (particularly younger) are informing you that something isn't right with your hearing, it’s a good idea to listen to them (no pun intended).

It's understandable that you would want to rationalize away this advice. Perhaps you tell yourself it was just a bad day or whatever. But heeding their advice could maintain the health of your hearing.

Sign #6: You hear ringing in your ears (or experience vertigo)

Ringing in your ears is a condition known as tinnitus. It's not at all unusual. When you have hearing loss, your tinnitus can become severe for a couple of reasons:

  • Damage can trigger both: Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be the result of damage. So the more damaged your hearing system is, the more likely you are to experience both hearing loss and tinnitus.
  • Tinnitus is more obvious when you have hearing loss: Tinnitus can be drowned-out by everyday noises in your day-to-day life. But as hearing loss makes those background sounds quieter, tinnitus symptoms come to the front.

It could be an indication that you're dealing with issues with your ears, either way, if you have loud noises in your ears or balance issues and vertigo. This means it's time to come see us for a hearing test.

Sign #7: You feel exhausted after social engagement

Maybe the reason why social situations have become so tiring is because you've always been an introvert. Or maybe, and just hear us out here (again with the puns), your hearing isn’t what it once was.

Your hearing could be the reason why you feel wiped out after leaving a restaurant or social event. When there are interruptions in what you hear, your brain works really hard to fill in those holes. This additional effort by your brain can leave you feeling exhausted. So when you’re in particularly strenuous situations (like a noisy space), you may experience even more fatigue.

The first step is getting in touch with us for an appointment

The truth is that we all experience some hearing damage in our lifetimes. Just how much (and how frequently you were wearing hearing protection) might have a huge impact on when you develop hearing loss, or if you develop hearing loss in the first place.

So it may be an indication that the banana is changing if you experience any of these signs. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it: come in and get tested! The sooner your hearing loss is identified, the sooner you’ll be able to get treatment.



The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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