A hearing loss is where a person’s hearing is affected in such a way that he/she cannot communicate or understand in various situations compared to a normal hearing person.

A hearing loss can originate either in the outer ear (conductive hearing loss) or in the inner ear (sensory-neural hearing loss or nerve deafness). Both hearing losses will be identified by your hearing healthcare professional where he/she will treat the hearing loss or refer you to an ENT specialist. Modern hearing aids are especially effective in the treatment of ‘nerve deafness’.

Warning Signs of Hearing Loss:

If you experience these signs repeatedly or in combination, they may indicate a hearing loss:

• People seem to mumble more frequently.
• You have difficulty understanding speech in noise – like in a restaurant.
• You experience ringing in your ears – often called tinnitus.
• You often ask people to repeat themselves.
• Your family complains that you set the radio or TV too loud.
• You no longer hear normal household sounds, such as the dripping of a faucet, the ringing of a doorbell or the ‘beep’ of a microwave oven.
• You have difficulty understanding a conversation when in a large group or crowd.
• In a conversation, you hear, but have trouble understanding all the words.
• You find telephone conversations increasingly difficult.
• You have trouble hearing when your back is turned to the speaker.
• You have been told you speak too loudly or in some cases too softly.