When speaking with others, do their words seem increasingly muffled or unclear? Have you found yourself turning up the television without even noticing, yet still struggling to hear clearly?
When this happens only occasionally, many people may not give it much thought. They may assume that the surroundings are too noisy or that the other person is speaking too softly. However, if sounds consistently seem quieter, you often need others to repeat themselves, or you can only follow television programmes by increasing the volume, it may be a sign of hearing impairment.
Changes in hearing affect more than just the volume of sound—they can also make speech and everyday communication more difficult to follow. If the problem has started to affect your daily life, consider consulting an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to assess whether your hearing has changed.
