Chrosniak, Schwartzbauer, and Mehta M.D.

Socially:

• require frequent repetition.
• have difficulty following conversations involving more than 2 people.
• think that other people sound muffled or like they're mumbling.
• have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like conferences, restaurants, malls, or crowded meeting rooms.
• have trouble hearing children and women.
• have your TV or radio turned up to a high volume.
• answer or respond inappropriately in conversations.
• have ringing in your ears.
• read lips or more intently watch people's faces when they speak with you.

Emotionally:

• feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying.
• feel annoyed at other people because you can't hear or understand them.
• feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying.
• feel nervous about trying to hear and understand.
• withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing.

Medically:

• have a family history of hearing loss.
• take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs).
• have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems.
• have been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise.