C:

The tell-tale signs we must look for in ourselves and others to identify the onset of deafness:

Socially:

• do you say pardon frequently.

• do you get annoyed when you hear background noise on the TV which you feel does nothing for the storyline.

• always ask people to repeat their names having missed it the first time heard.

• ask telephone callers to slow down before they actually begin speaking.

• have difficulty following conversations involving more than 2 people.

• think that other people sound muffled or like as if they're mumbling.

• struggle to hear speech in noisy situations, like conferences or restaurants.

• have particular trouble understanding children and women.

• have others told you that your TV or radio is turned up too high.

• others turn your TV’s audio down when listening with you.

• do you respond inappropriately in conversations.

• you are beginning to find it difficult to hear conversation when you are in a group or where there is background noise.

• you complain that people are mumbling and not speaking clearly.

• have a ringing sound or the sound of the sea on pebbles in your ears.

• do you need to intently watch people's faces or lips when they speak with you.

• have others ask you not to stare at them.

• others touch you gently to get your attention.

• you may have difficulty understanding the higher pitched voices of women and children.  Higher pitched consonants such as ‘f’, ‘k’, ‘p’, ‘s’, ‘sh’, and ‘t’ may be out of your hearing range.

• want to leave shops where you feel the noise is too loud.

• dread flying because of the high pitched drone of the engines.

• rather email or text than talk on the telephone.

• prefer to drive, or be the passenger, only one option allows you to hear during the drive.

• those around you have commented on the need to raise their voices or repeat phrases when talking to you.

• you have to turn the TV or radio volume higher than may be acceptable to other family members or friends.

Emotionally:

• feel tired and stressed from straining to hear what others are saying.

• feel annoyed at other people because you can't hear or understand them.

• feel embarrassed or nervous to meet new people through misunderstanding what they may be saying.

• withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of the difficulty of hearing what is said.

• get embarrassed about your inability to take notes as you know that now it is hard to grasp some words.

• feel others always talk too fast.

• nod and smile at others pretending to understand.

Medically:

• do you have members of your family with a history of hearing loss.

• when a child did you have operations on your ears.

• fitted with grommets more than once in your youth.

• do you take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs).

• are you diabetic, or have you got heart, circulation or thyroid problems.

• have you recently been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise.

• do you duck down and cover your ears when aircraft fly low over your head.

• ask people to talk much quieter if they speak close to you, but fail to hear them when they’re just a few feet away.

• hear perfectly well from one side but not the other.

• able to hear one day but not the next.

• you find that you have to concentrate increasingly harder to follow a conversation, which is tiring.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms you should ideally visit a hearing centre to have a hearing test and a discussion about the options available. Remember virtually all private sector hearing centres have an obligation to test you and give you best advice.