Signs you need a hearing test

Hearing loss is so gradual so many people don't even notice it. These are the signs that you may have a hearing loss.

1. You often ask people to repeat what they say

2. You turn up the volume on the television

3. Missing alarms, doorbells, mobile phone or watertank overflow

4. You find it difficult to follow conversations when two or more people talk at same time

5. You struggle to understand female or children voices

6. You always look at the face/ lips of the people who talk to you

7. You struggle to understand the conversation from behind

8. Others complain that you talk too softly or too loudly

9. Tendency to turn head and use one ear to listen

10. You find it hard to hear conversations when there is a background noise

11. You feel tired after long conversations

12. Ringing in your ears - tinnitus

Apart from the above signs, you also need to have hearing checked if

1. You have a history of long exposure to noise

2. You have a family member with hearing loss

3. You are above 60

4. You have memory loss

5. You have diabetes or blood pressure

6. You have heart disease or cancer

7. You had strong antibiotics or steroids

If you have any of the above signs, visit an audiologst to get your hearing checked to avoid adverse effects of hearing loss.