Healthy Person

sarah

sually, hearing loss is painless and gradual, typically developing over a period of 25 to 30 years. Without some qualitative test, you won't realize you're losing your hearing till it's too late. There is a degree of hearing loss associated with aging, and infections, sudden loud or prolonged noise, diseases (like Meniere's disease) or genetic disorders (like otosclerosis), medical conditions (like diabetes), even a build-up of ear wax can mean hearing loss.

Here are some warning signs to watch out for:

- Pain or ringing in your ears (tinnitus) after exposure to noise

- Muffled speech sounds or music sounds dull after leaving a noisy area

- Difficulty understanding speech in crowded situations

- Difficulty in pinpointing sounds' locations (loss of stereo hearing)

- Frequently mispronouncing words

- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves