Hearing impairment or hearing loss is the partial or total inability to hear sounds. The symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. Individuals with mild impairments may have issues understanding speech. This is particularly so if there is so much noise in your environment. On the other hand, people with moderate hearing loss may require hearing aids.

If you are concerned about whether you or your loved ones might have hearing loss, you should know that the symptoms of hearing loss depend on the type of hearing loss you are dealing with, as well as the severity. People suffering from mild hearing loss in both ears may experience sound differently than people with severe hearing loss, probably in one ear.

 

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

The symptoms of hearing loss are based on its cause. While some people are born with deafness, others might suddenly start experiencing hearing loss due to an illness or an accident. Oftentimes, the signs of deafness can progress gradually with time. There are many conditions that may have deafness as signs, including tinnitus.

Hearing impairment in infants

Among infants, some signs may indicate hearing problems. Some of these include the following:

  • If a baby does not move in response to a noise or sound, before they are 4 months old.
  • If the infant finds it hard or impossible to utter a word by the age of 12 months.
  • If the baby does not seem to be surprised or startled by a very loud noise.
  • If the infant provides a stronger response when they see you, but finds it hard to respond when you call out their name anytime you are out of sight.
  • The infant only appears to take note of certain sounds.

Hearing impairment in children

As the child grows, the symptoms might become more obvious:

  • The child finds it hard to keep up with other children the same age in terms of oral communication.
  • The child keeps asking "pardon?" or "what?
  • The child talks in a long voice while also producing noises that are louder than normal.
  • The child's utterances are not clear, especially when they speak.

Conclusion

Hearing loss is a serious issue that can occur when a part of the ear is not functioning as they should. So, it is important for patients who suspect there is something wrong with their hearing ability to visit their doctor for informed advice.

It is the responsibility of the doctor to talk to the patient. They will ask some questions that relate to the symptoms. These symptoms are important to understand the severity of the hearing loss, as well as how the medical professionals can tackle the issue.

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