1. Often asking people to repeat themselves
2. People speaking too softly
3. Talking too loudly
If you normally don’t talk too loudly but these past few days, weeks, or months, people are complaining that you are talking too loudly, it may signal a hearing problem. People with impaired hearing can’t easily hear sounds and voices even if it is their own voice. That is why they tend to talk so loud and some even shout as they talk.
4. Turning the radio, television, or video at a higher volume
If you prefer to switch the volume of your television or radio at a maximum or you prefer to watch a video or listen to music louder than the normal volume range, then it may be time for you to get a hearing aid.
5. Can’t understand people without looking at their faces
People with hearing problems often have difficulty understanding the speaker without looking at his/her face. A hearing aid can be programmed and adjusted to fit your specific needs.
6. Struggling to keep up with a conversation
People who have difficulty hearing struggles to keep up with a conversation. They find it hard to understand what people say, and they also feel stressed or tired concentrating while listening especially when in a group setting.
7. Emotional signs
Emotional signs like unexplainable frustration, irritation, and impatience can be a sign of hearing problems. If you find yourself becoming more irritable, frustrated, impatient, or withdrawn as days go by and you can’t possibly point out what causes you to feel this way, it might be that you are under emotional stress due to impaired hearing.
It is not easy to tell right away if you are losing your ability to hear or if it is already time to wear a hearing aid. However, knowing these signs can give you an idea of when should you get your ears checked and buy a hearing aid.