Hearing loss

It's not always easy to tell if you're losing your hearing.

Common signs include:

• difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places
• needing to ask people to repeat themselves
• listening to music or watching TV with the volume higher than other people need
• difficulty hearing on the phone
• finding it hard to keep up with a conversation
• feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening

Sometimes someone else might notice problems with your hearing before you do.

Hearing loss can affect a child's speech development and progress at school.

There are lots of possible causes of hearing loss. It may be caused by something treatable or it may be permanent.

Your symptoms may give you an idea what could be causing it. But do not self-diagnose, see a GP for advice.

• you think your hearing is getting gradually worse
• you've had treatment for an ear infection or earwax build-up but your hearing has not come back

You can also sometimes get a free hearing test at some pharmacies and opticians.

Treatment for hearing loss depends on what's causing it.

Sometimes a GP may be able to treat the cause, for example:

• an ear infection might be treated with antibiotics
• an earwax build-up might be treated with ear drops or removed

If your hearing loss is not caused by something a GP can treat, they may refer you to a hearing specialist for further tests and treatment.

Hearing aids and implants

If you have permanent hearing loss, a specialist will often recommend hearing aids. These will not make your hearing perfect, but they make sounds louder and clearer.

Some people may need a hearing implant. These are devices that are attached to your skull or placed deep inside your ear.

If you have hearing loss, there are things you can do to help you communicate with others and avoid more damage to your hearing.

• reduce background noise or move to a quieter area when talking to other people

• face people when they're talking to you, so you can see their mouth, facial expressions and gestures

• ask people to repeat themselves, speak more slowly and clearly or write things down if you need them to

• ask a GP or specialist about tools or devices that can help, such as telephone and television amplifiers, flashing or vibrating alarms, and apps for smartphones or tablets

• wear ear protection when exposed to loud noises

• do not listen to music too loudly – the volume should be just high enough for you to hear it comfortably

• do not put your fingers or any objects like cotton buds in your ears, even if you think they might be blocked

Hearing loss can be hard to spot at first. Common signs are difficulty hearing other people clearly and needing the TV to be loud.

Hearing loss has lots of possible causes. It’s often due to getting older, but is sometimes caused by something treatable like an infection or earwax.

Treatment for hearing loss depends on the cause. Some causes like earwax are treatable. For permanent hearing loss, hearing aids are usually needed.