The following 11 question quiz will help you determine if you need to have your loved one's hearing evaluated by a medical professional. If you or your loved one answers "yes" to three or more of these questions, it could indicate the need for further evaluation to rule out or officially diagnose hearing loss.
- Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone?
- Do I have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background?
- Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?
- Do I have to strain to understand a conversation?
- Do many people I talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
- Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
- Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
- Do people complain that I turn the TV volume up too high?
- Do I hear a consistent ringing, roaring, or hissing sound?
- Do some sounds seem too loud?
There are many causes of hearing loss. Hearing problems are serious in that they affect relationships, hinder communication, and can impact home safety. Some types of hearing loss are treatable, or even curable. If the hearing loss affects every day life, a wide variety of hearing loss devices are available to help.
The most important thing you can do if you think your loved one has a hearing problem is see a doctor. An otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in the ear, nose, and throat, or an audiologist can diagnose hearing loss and make a plan for future care.
Source: National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/