Like any medical condition, the sooner you address hearing loss the better. Some of the signs can be subtle and easy to dismiss, so knowing what to look out for can help ensure you get the care you need.

Let's take a closer look at 10 common signs that you may have hearing loss. 

1. Phone calls are hard to understand

Regularly struggling to hear phone conversations might mean more than a bad connection. It could be an early indicator of hearing loss.

While turning up the volume on your smartphone or landline may help you hear better, it can also prevent you from noticing a problem. If you find yourself amping the volume up to the max, you may want to schedule a hearing evaluation.

2. You have trouble following a conversation when people are talking at the same time

Our ability to process multiple competing signals worsens over time, so being a little lost in conversation occasionally isn't always a sign of hearing loss. However, if you’re frequently having a hard time following the conversations at a work meeting or when having a meal with your family, you may have hearing loss. (Even mild hearing loss causes  a loss in speech clarity, making it harder to distinguish words.)

3. Your family (or neighbor!) complains that your TV is too loud

Hearing loss can make television programs hard to follow, particularly during times when music is drowning out dialogue. If you consistently need the TV turned up so loud that it’s uncomfortable for others in the room or if your neighbors can hear it, it’s time to get a hearing test.

4. You’re tired from straining to hear conversations

Constantly straining to hear and follow conversation is mentally and physically fatiguing. Doing so can make you feel exhausted and worn out. So, if a typical day of chatting with coworkers, friends and family leaves you with a headache or fatigue, you may have a hearing loss.

5. You have trouble hearing in noisy environments

We all enjoy checking out the new restaurant in town or catching up with friends at our favorite local coffee shop. The problem with dining out is that all the background noise can make it difficult to hear the folks at your table.

People with hearing loss often have problems ignoring background noise and focusing on speech. Hearing care professionals note that this is a very common patient complaint. If it happens to you often, it could be time for a hearing evaluation.

6.You say “What?” a lot

If “what?” is becoming the most commonly used word in your vocabulary, it could mean you aren’t getting the sound signals you need to process speech correctly. You may have hearing loss. Another sign is you rely heavily on your spouse to "translate" for you, compensating for your hearing loss.

7. People don’t seem to speak clearly

If everyone around you sounds like the teacher from Charlie Brown, chances are you're suffering from hearing loss. Very often, people who cannot hear high frequencies have the feeling they can hear, but not understand.

8. You misunderstand what people say

“You want me to eat a frog?” “No, Fred, I said, ‘See the fog!’"

Misunderstanding people can be embarrassing. What's worse is that frequent misunderstandings can make it harder to connect with your loved ones or feel comfortable socializing. 

These miscommunications often stem from the beginnings of high-frequency hearing loss that affect our ability to discern the sounds of speech. This type of hearing loss is known as sensorineural hearing loss and is often due to aging or exposure to loud noise.

9. Children and women are especially hard to understand

Hearing loss within a specific frequency range is common. Particularly with age, you’re more likely to experience hearing loss in the high frequencies. Since women and children speak at higher pitches or frequencies, it may be harder to understand your grandchild or a female family member as opposed to deeper male voices.

10. You're often frustrated in conversations

It’s easy to get annoyed at those around you when you cannot hear what they're saying. The feelings of frustration are normal and understandable since communication is such an important part of life. Often times, your frustration isn't actually directed at others but at the emerging signs of hearing loss you're noticing.

The importance of early treatment

It's important to recognize that hearing loss is more than just missing a few words here and there. It's about feeling disconnected to those around you. Treating hearing loss early makes it easier to fully participate in conversations and feel confident in your interactions.

How to get help for hearing loss

If you recognize just one or two of these signs, your hearing may not be affected. Even people with perfectly normal hearing experience times where we have trouble understanding someone or hearing in challenging environments.

However, if you frequently recognize more than a few of these signs or any other common hearing loss symptoms, getting a baseline hearing test is a good idea.

Hearing loss is well-understood and solutions to fit every budget exist. The testing is easy and painless, too. So, act today and call a hearing care professional near you to get back to hearing your best.