Report Symptoms to a Hearing Center

After making an appointment at a hearing center, one of the first things individuals should do is to make a list of the symptoms they are experiencing. It is a good idea to talk to family and loved ones, even co-workers about your condition and discuss what they are seeing and experiencing, too. This is the best way to fully understand just how much of an effect your loss of ability to hear has been on you and those around you. While tests can provide a vast amount of information to the doctor, it is a good idea to explain what is happening in your everyday life, too. Common Symptoms You May Experience The hearing center will ask you about what you are experiencing. It is a good idea to list anything that you can think of that could be an indication of your loss. The most common symptoms are those listed here. -Do you hear speech as a muffled sound? -Do sounds around you seem far away or distant in general? -When a person is speaking to you, do you miss some of the words? -Does background noise tend to interfere with your ability to understand what others are saying to you? -Do you find yourself having to ask someone to repeat him or herself numerous times before you can understand what they are saying? -Do you need to ask people to talk louder or slower for you to grasp the conversation? -Do you turn the volume up on the television frequently in order to hear it well enough? -Do you find yourself avoiding talking to others because you are worried you cannot hear them well enough? In addition to these things, ask friends and loved ones about what they experience. Sometimes, you may not realize just how much you have to ask people to repeat themselves. You may not even realize someone is talking to you until they step in front of you. Loved Ones at Risk? If you are like many who have loved ones that do not have the ability to hear well, discuss the situation with them. One of the tell tale signs they need help is when they are avoiding conversations or pulling out of their normal social settings because they lack the ability to hear well enough to converse easily. For most people, a visit to the hearing center is all it will take to get those questions answered. Talk to your doctor about these symptoms and let him or her know how long it has been happening. By taking these steps, you could see a significant level of improvement in your ability to do the things you enjoy doing. It may be well worth the investment of your time.