The Common Signs You Are Suffering From Hearing Loss
Last Your Hearing Update: 06/01/2026
There are lots of symptoms of hearing loss. Many can go overlooked at first, as, after all, if you can’t hear a sound, you don’t know it was there. Every day sounds, such as the hum of the fridge in your kitchen or the birds outside, can fade away without you noticing.
You may be able to hear people but not understand everything they are saying, making you feel out of sync with the conversation. You might get the wrong end of the stick in conversations and get frustrated with people. If the subject changes without you realising, you might find yourself speaking out of turn and feel silly.
You could be accused of ignoring people when they call you in the street or not hearing someone coming up behind you, making you jump. Whilst you can hear the conversation at home, you could find it harder when you are outside or in a large room with a high ceiling.
You might start to suspect people are talking about you in quiet voices, or that you are going slightly mad because you can’t follow what’s being said. It isn’t true. You’re not mad, and they were probably talking about the weather.
Hearing loss can be very gradual
Hearing loss is not like turning the volume down on the radio. Certain frequencies become harder to hear than others. These are usually the higher-pitched sounds, so women’s and children’s voices can be more difficult to hear than men’s.
Because you can hear ok in certain situations, you may feel that your hearing is fine. You may think it’s those around you who aren’t being clear. This is why many people find that their friends or relatives begin to point out that they are repeating themselves too much when you think they are mumbling, or complain that the TV is too loud when you think it’s just right.
Some speech sounds are softer than others
So ‘th’ ‘f’ ‘s’ ‘z’ and ‘v’ are harder to hear than ‘t’ ‘ch’ ‘l’ and ‘u’. This makes it harder to hear some parts of words or sentences and not others. Depending on what’s being said and how much background noise there is you may be able to follow the conversation.
Other times it will be harder, and this is difficult for those around you to understand. They may even joke that your hearing is selective with “You heard me, then didn’t you?”
Many people, without realising it, form their own coping mechanisms to hear better. If you have more trouble hearing someone with facial hair than someone who is clean-shaven, you may be lip-reading without even realising.
This is why you can’t hear people if they turn their heads away or cover their mouths when speaking. Difficulties in social situations can have a knock-on effect on your confidence. You may begin to avoid people or struggle to keep up in meetings at work. Many people also find it harder to hear on the telephone.
If you have any concerns, it’s important not to panic
A visit to an audiologist can determine whether you have hearing loss as well as what is causing it. It’s important to mention any other symptoms, such as recurring ear infections or dizziness, if you suffer from ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or if your ears feel blocked. On average, people wait 10 years before taking action about their hearing loss. This causes greater isolation as well as stress.
Having a hearing aid can help you to feel connected again. The earlier you get help, the easier it can be to adjust to your new hearing aid. This is because you get used to things being quiet, and the world is a noisy place.
You won’t be alone. According to Action on Hearing Loss, there are 11 million people in the UK who have a hearing loss, which is 1 in 6 people. Modern hearing aids are small and discreet.
The old stigma around wearing hearing aids is slowly being erased. There are also plenty of listening devices, such as amplified telephones, that you can use to help you stay connected.
Need more support?
For friendly, knowledgeable advice, just call us free on 0800 567 7721. Alternatively, you can fill in the form at the bottom of the page to request a callback with one of our experts or click on one of the buttons below to book a free appointment or home visit with a local audiologist today. Let’s find the right hearing solution – together.
Signs of hearing loss FAQS
1. What are the most common signs of hearing loss?
The most common signs include difficulty understanding conversations in noisy places, frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the TV volume, and missing everyday sounds like birds singing or the fridge humming. You might also find yourself struggling to hear women's and children's voices more than men's.
2. Why can I hear some people but not others?
Hearing loss typically affects higher-pitched sounds first, making women's and children's voices harder to hear than men's deeper voices. Certain speech sounds like 'th', 'f', 's', 'z', and 'v' are also softer and more difficult to pick up than louder consonants.
3. Does hearing loss happen suddenly?
No, hearing loss is usually very gradual. It's not like turning down the volume on a radio—certain frequencies become harder to hear whilst others remain clear. This means you might hear fine in quiet situations but struggle in noisy environments or group conversations.
4. How long do people typically wait before getting help?
On average, people wait 10 years before taking action about their hearing loss. However, seeking help early makes adjustment to hearing aids much easier and helps prevent social isolation, stress, and the knock-on effects on confidence and mental wellbeing.
5. Could I be lip-reading without realising it?
Yes, many people develop lip-reading as a coping mechanism without knowing it. If you find it harder to hear someone with facial hair, when they turn away, or if they cover their mouth whilst speaking, you're likely relying on visual cues more than you think.
