What Are the Signs of Hearing Loss & Next Steps for Addressing It?

Signs of Hearing Loss

• You struggle to follow conversations when others are speaking.
• People seem to speak too softly or too quickly, mumble or slur their words.
• You often ask people to repeat themselves.
• When using the telephone, you find yourself straining to distinguish words. You plug your non-phone ear with a finger or turn up the volume to a high level.
• Even during video chats, you find it difficult to hear clearly.
• You sometimes miss text message alerts, the doorbell, a ringing phone or your name being called out.
• You struggle to understand speech in noisy environments like restaurants.
• You prefer the television volume much louder than your friends and family members.
• You hear a ringing sound in your ears on a constant basis.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these signs, the next step is to schedule a hearing screening with a local professional, like a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist (BC-HIS). This designation means that the specialist has passed a rigorous competency exam, completed at least two years of practice and adheres to strict ethical and continuing education standards, proving expertise beyond basic state licensing. This certification is an internationally recognized symbol of excellence, ensuring high-quality care from a professional who works specifically with hearing devices and can offer customized fittings, affordable options and ongoing assistance with maintenance.

Established, reputable hearing aid practices like Beltone will have a BC-HIS and offer free screenings, where they will do a series of assessments similar to tests that are done with an eye doctor. While eye exams involve eye charts and blinking lights to check your levels of sight, the hearing tests check your level of hearing with sensory stimuli. One test is for clarity, where patients will repeat words back as they hear them. The more words they repeat incorrectly, the lower the score. Another test is for volume, where the patient listens to sounds projected through earphones at various volume levels and then indicates when they can hear them. This is done with both ears. The hearing aid type that matches the condition is then chosen, and the settings are customized to fit each person’s particular need for both ears. The process of finding the right solution for hearing issues is simple and quick, and the result of being able to hear clearly again is often life-changing.