Do you or someone you know have a hearing loss?
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:
- Muffling of speech and other sounds
- Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people
- Trouble hearing consonants
- Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
- Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
- Withdrawal from conversations
- Avoidance of some social settings
When to see a doctor
- If you have a sudden loss of hearing, particularly in one ear, seek immediate medical attention.
- Talk to your doctor if difficulty hearing is interfering with your daily life. Your hearing may have deteriorated if:
- You find that it’s harder to understand everything that’s said in conversation, especially when there’s background noise
- Sounds seem muffled
- You find yourself having to turn the volume higher when you listen to music, the radio or television
Take our online hearing screener here!
The Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss
Dementia. Those with untreated hearing loss are 2-5 times more likely to develop dementia.
Falling. untreated hearing loss puts people at a higher risk (triple the norm!) of falling
Fatigue. Exhaustion from increased listening effort.
Social Isolation. Withdrawal from social life due to communication barriers.
Depression. 2 times more likely to have a negative attitude
Anxiety and High Blood Pressure. Stress related to safety and mishearing as a result of untreated hearing loss.
Poor Social Relationships. More than 60% of people with untreated hearing loss form negative relationships with their loved ones.
Missing Environment Sounds. Missing the sound of birds, water dripping, fire alarm and even your grandchild’s first words.
Decreased Earning Potential. Reduced confidence and difficulty communicating can result in an average loss of $12,000 per year in earnings.
Speech/Language Delays. If a child can’t hear speech, they have difficulty learning how to talk.
Literacy/Reading. If a child does not learn language because of hearing loss they have difficulty learning how to read, including grammar, spelling and syntax
Social Development. Not having the ability to interact with their peers because they cannot hear makes it difficult for these children to be social and integrated
Behavior Issues. Children who have difficulty communicating their wants and needs inherently act out more because they don’t know any other way of expressing themselves.
