The following checklist will assist you in determining if you have a hearing problem.

10 Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss

• Do you hear, but not understand, what is being said?
• Do you have trouble hearing the television and/or radio?
• Do you feel that other people seem to mumble or talk too quickly?
• Do you have difficulty hearing people talk when there is background
• noise such as at a restaurant or a social gathering?
• Do you find yourself watching the mouths of people as they talk?
• Do you experience ringing, pain, or fullness in one or both ears?
• Do you frequently ask people to repeat what they say?
• Is anyone in your family hard of hearing or deaf?
• Do you find it difficult to understand others over the telephone?
• Do you tend to hear male voices more easily than female voices?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, a hearing evaluation is recommended. A thorough hearing evaluation can rule out simple problems such as wax blockage and can determine if referral to a physician is necessary. Only 5 to 10% of hearing loss can be corrected medically or surgically. In most cases, hearing aids will be recommended to improve your communication ability. Even with the appropriate hearing aids, it is a good idea for family and friends to use the following tips to improve communication:

10 Tips for Communicating with Hearing-Impaired People

1. Get the person's attention first - make sure that the person is looking at you before you start to talk.
2. Face the person - have the light on the speaker's face, not in the listener's eyes.
3. Don't hide your mouth when talking.
4. Talk in a quiet place if possible.
5. Speak clearly and more slowly.
6. Don't shout - shouting only distorts the speech signal.
7. Use facial expressions, lip movements, and hand gestures to add to your message.
8. Say your message in a different way if it is not understood at first.
9. Write your message if necessary.
10. Be sure that the person is not bluffing or pretending he or she heard you - have the person repeat what you said to check for accuracy.
    

Following these simple suggestions should make communication easier for everyone. In addition to hearing aids, a wide variety of products called Assistive Listening Devices are available to improve a person's ability to hear. These include phone amplifiers, infrared systems for television listening, and alerting devices. Audiologists can assist in the recommendation and fitting of these devices.