Because hearing loss in adults often takes place gradually the symptoms of hearing loss are usually not first noticed by the sufferer. It’s quite likely that those around you will notice it first, remarking that the TV is too loud or noticing that you ask them to repeat things. But hearing loss can also happen very abruptly (known as Sudden Deafness) perhaps as a result of a viral infection of the inner ear.
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RNID reports that around 840 children are born with a degree of deafness each year in the UK, either due to problems at birth or a number of genetic conditions.
The most direct of symptoms of hearing loss is the inability to hear soft sounds. Depending on the degree of their hearing loss, some people may have difficulty hearing conversational sounds or even loud sounds. Some people may hear speech sounds, but they may not understand their meaning. This is especially noticeable in noisy places.
Symptoms of hearing loss: You may have a hearing loss if:
- You hear people speaking but you have difficulty understanding what they are saying
- You are frequently having to ask for repetitions
- You feel left out in conversations
- You complain that others are mumbling
- You need to ask colleagues about the details of a meeting or presentation you attended
- You miss jokes because you didn’t hear all of what was said
- Friends and family need you to turn the TV or Radio down
- You do not hear the doorbell/telephone
- You have difficulty working out where sounds are coming from
- You have a history of exposure to loud noise e.g. working in the construction industry
- You understand more of what is being said if you are looking at the person speaking to you.
- Soft sounds seem to have disappeared altogether in speech
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