Do you ever feel like people around you are mumbling or speaking too quickly? Are you having to ask others to repeat themselves frequently or struggling to follow a conversation when there is background noise? If so, these could be indicators that you have a hearing loss.

Often, our friends and family members may notice we have hearing loss before we do. We may even use them as a crutch to help fill in the blanks when we are missing parts of a conversation. Or perhaps they recognize you are having a hard time on the telephone or the volume of the TV continues to go up. If any of this sounds familiar to you, it’s time to get your hearing checked.

The best way to find out if you have a hearing loss is to get a simple hearing evaluation by a licensed hearing healthcare professional. They will be able to determine not only if you have a hearing loss, but what type and how severe the loss may be. Even if no loss is detected, it’s still a great idea to have a baseline audiogram to compare to any future tests.

 To get started, you may want to ask yourself a few simple questions:
• Do you often have trouble following conversations in groups?
• Are you having difficulty on the phone?
• Do you think others are mumbling?
• Do you say “I can hear, but I can’t understand”
• Are you avoiding noisy events or restaurants?
• Have you noticed the volume of the TV or radio needs to be turned up?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you know it’s time to get a hearing evaluation.

There are also free hearing screenings you can take online that will let you know if you have a loss or not. Just click on this link, and in a matter of minutes you’ll not only find out if you have a hearing loss, but also what you can do about it.

Remember, hearing health is important and you don’t have to struggle. It’s important to get regular hearing evaluations, even if it’s just to get a baseline. If you go here, you will be able to find the closest hearing healthcare professional to you. Don’t wait! Early detection is the key to your success.