As many as one in six people in the UK (the equivalent of 10 million people) are suffering with hearing impairment or deafness to some degree, estimates charity Action on Hearing Loss.
Although it can come on suddenly, more often than not, hearing loss develops gradually and there are several warning signs to watch out for.
Below, we list ten signs that could mean you are developing some form of hearing loss.
- You have difficulty following a conversation when there are two or more people talking
- When in noisy areas, you have difficulty hearing what someone is saying
- Certain sounds seem louder than usual and almost out of context
- Voices are mumbled or slurred
- You have significantly less trouble hearing a man’s voice than a woman’s voice
- You are experiencing feelings of pressure in the ear
- You have trouble distinguishing between high-pitched sounds (most commonly “s” or “th”)
- You have problems hearing when there is background noise
- You often feel dizzy or off-balance
- You are being subjected to a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears (otherwise known as tinnitus)
If you are experiencing any of the above, we urge you to visit your doctor without delay, so they can assess if you are developing hearing loss and advise you on how to prevent or minimise this. If left untreated, hearing loss can have severe consequences including isolation, sadness and depression.
Suffered hearing loss as a result of your job? If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss and believe this to be as a result of someone else’s negligence, you could be legally entitled to claim compensation for your suffering. Give us a call on 0800 028 2060 to discuss your options or contact us online here.