Signs That You Need to Go to the Doctor about Your Hearing

Hearing loss often occurs gradually, and many people struggle with poor hearing for years before they seek help. However, untreated hearing loss can have a profound impact on our relationships with friends, family, and co-workers. Hearing loss has also been associated with cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation. 

Fortunately, there are many treatments for hearing loss. As with most chronic health conditions, the sooner hearing problems are detected, the easier they are to treat. Read on to learn more about some of the symptoms that warrant a visit to the doctor. 

Sudden Hearing Loss

While rare, sudden hearing loss can happen. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) typically occurs all at once, or over the course of a few days. It often strikes just one ear but can affect both. Sometimes, people don’t notice until they do something that requires just one ear, such as talk on the telephone. At other times, people may hear a "pop" before one ear goes deaf. SSHL can be treated with steroids, and many people regain some or all of their hearing. It’s important to visit the doctor right away if you have sudden hearing loss; the sooner SSHL is treated, the better the odds of recovery. 

Other causes of sudden hearing loss include acoustic trauma (such as a nearby explosion), ear infections, or blockages from ear wax, fluids, or a foreign object in the ear canal. No matter what you think the cause might be, if you have sudden problems with your hearing, go see your doctor. 

Gradual Hearing Loss

Most cases of age-related hearing loss occur gradually, and people often struggle for years before they recognize the problem. Here are some signs that you should have your hearing checked: 

• Speech or other sounds seem muffled  
• It seems like everyone you know has started mumbling when they talk to you
• Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, such as an alarm clock, telephone, or birds chirping
• Struggling to follow conversations in noisy places, such as restaurants or nightclubs
• Trouble understanding phone conversations
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves, speak slowly, or speak up
• Missing important details in conversations
• Struggling to distinguish between similar consonant sounds (such as s and f, or p and b) 
• Finding the TV too quiet when other people are comfortable, or getting complaints that your TV or music is too loud
• Hypersensitivity to certain sounds
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Dizziness or vertigo

If you are experiencing any of these problems, or if you have other difficulties with your ears or hearing, see your doctor. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also suggest you visit an audiologist, a specialist who treats hearing and balance problems, or an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist who can treat medical issues with your ears.