Do you think you or someone you know may have hearing loss?

People with hearing loss often have the following complaints about communicating with others:

• "People seem to mumble.  I know someone is talking, but I can't understand what he is saying."
• "I can hear just fine in places that are quiet, but I have trouble hearing in noisy rooms."
• "Sometimes I may mistake a word for one that rhymes with it."
• "I don't think I am hearing the quiet sounds that my family hears!"

Other signs of a hearing problem in older adults can be detected in these complaints voiced by family members and friends:

• "My mother doesn't understand what I am saying unless I am looking right at her!"
• "When I visit my Grandpa he doesn't always answer the doorbell."
• "My husband constantly asks for words to be repeated."
• "My wife turns the TV up too loud!"
• "I have noticed that my parents are withdrawing from social contact and friendships."

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association created the following self test to help people determine if they have a hearing loss.  Take this self test to find out if you need to visit a hearing professional.

1. Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
   Yes
   No
2. Do you hear better in one ear than the other when you are on the telephone?
   Yes
   No
3. Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
   Yes
   No
4. Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
   Yes
   No
5. Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
   Yes
   No
6. Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
   Yes
   No
7. Do you have trouble hearing in restaurants?
   Yes
   No
8. Do you have dizziness, pain, or ringing in your ears?
   Yes
   No
9. Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
   Yes
   No
10. Do family members or co-workers remark about your missing what has been said?
    Yes
    No
11. Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
    Yes
    No
12. Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
    Yes
    No
13. Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
    Yes
    No
14. Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?
    Yes
    No

If you answered yes to any of the questions, you should have his or her hearing tested by a licensed and certified audiologist.

Click here if you would like a PDF version of the Self Test for Hard of Hearing