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Hearing
self-evaluation
Not
sure about the state of your hearing? This brief quiz can give
you an idea of whether you’re experiencing hearing loss. Answer
yes or no.
- Do you
hear people talk but have difficulty understanding the words?
- Do long
conversations make you feel tired or irritable?
- Do people
seem to mumble or speak more softly than they used to?
- Do
you need to ask people to repeat things frequently?
- Do you
piece together the meaning of speech without hearing all the
words?
- Are
you turning up the volume on the radio or TV above where others
listen?
- Is
it difficult to converse on the phone or your cell phone?
- Do you
hear better with one ear than the other?
- Is it
harder to hear when background noise is present?
- Do you
strain to hear in crowded bars or restaurants?
- Have
you had any significant noise exposure at work, recreation
or in military service?
- Do you
have difficulty following dialog at the movies or in a theater?
- Is
it easier to understand men’s voices than women’s?
- Do you
often misunderstand what others say?
- Is
it sometimes difficult to understand the speaker at a public
meeting or service?
- Does
difficulty hearing cause you anxiety or embarrassment in new
situations?
- Does
difficulty hearing cause you to visit with friends or family
members less often than you’d like?
- Has
anyone close to you suggested that you might have a hearing
problem?
Many
people can answer yes to at least one question. But if you answer
yes to two or more, it’s time for a more thorough investigation.
A
hearing professional can give you an in-depth analysis of your
hearing abilities and options. For
a listing of hearing professionals in your area, click here.
You
might want to keep track of your hearing experience for a few
days or a week. Track the number of times you experience difficulty
in conversation, or how often you ask someone to repeat themselves.
Ask a friend to set the TV volume to a comfortable listening level;
is it loud enough for you to hear comfortably? What do your answers
tell you?
This
article courtesy of Starkey
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