- Hearing loss usually develops gradually, so early signs are often subtle and easy to miss or explain away.
- Common early signs include asking people to repeat themselves, turning the TV up louder than others prefer, and finding group conversations tiring.
- Friends and family often notice changes before the person experiencing them does.
- If any of these signs sound familiar, booking an Ear360 hearing health assessment is a simple way to find out what's going on.
Why early signs are easy to miss
Unlike a sudden injury, hearing loss usually develops over a number of years. Because the changes are subtle and occur slowly, it's easy for your brain to adapt and compensate without you realising it. In fact, many people don't notice that their hearing has changed until someone else points it out or a particular situation makes it obvious, which is why the early signs of hearing loss are often dismissed as "everyone else is mumbling".
Common early signs of hearing loss
Some of the early signs of hearing loss include:
- Asking people to repeat themselves more often than you used to
- Turning the TV or radio up louder than other people in the room find comfortable
- Finding it harder to follow conversations in groups or noisy places like cafes and restaurants
- Struggling to hear on the phone, or avoiding phone calls
- Feeling more tired than usual after social situations, from the extra effort of following conversation
- Difficulty hearing higher-pitched sounds, like birds, doorbells, or some voices
Why others notice your hearing loss before you do
It's very common for partners, family members or friends to notice changes in someone's hearing before that person does themselves. If someone close to you has mentioned that you are asking them to repeat things more often, or that the TV always seems too loud, it's worth taking that seriously, even if it doesn't feel obvious to you.
Our hearing plays a much bigger role in how we function day to day than many people realise. What you hear (or don't hear) impacts how hard your brain has to work, how mentally tiring everyday life feels and how connected you are to the people around you.
In a study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, Johns Hopkins experts found that mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia. Moderate loss tripled the risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia (Lin, et al. 2011).
While the exact cause of the association between hearing and cognitive decline is unknown, researchers propose that untreated hearing loss forces the brain to expend excessive mental effort to process sound, potentially reducing resources needed for memory and thinking. It also commonly leads to social isolation and depression, both of which are independent risk factors for cognitive decline (Livingston, et al. 2024).
What to do if you suspect you have hearing loss
If you've noticed you're struggling to hear as well as you used to, we recommend seeing an audiologist as soon as possible, as having a complete picture of your hearing health allows us to be proactive and talk about what support might help you now and in the future. Ear360 is a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond the sounds you can hear and explores how your hearing impacts other areas of your life, such as sleep, balance, tinnitus and cognitive function. To understand what to expect, check out our guide on what happens during an Ear360 assessment or call our team on 0800 737 662.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of our most frequently asked questions related to early signs of hearing loss
Common early signs include asking people to repeat themselves, turning the TV up louder than others prefer, struggling in group conversations or noisy places, and feeling more tired after socialising.
Hearing loss usually develops gradually, so the brain adapts over time. Many people don't notice the change until someone else points it out or a specific situation makes it obvious.
Yes. An Ear360 hearing health assessment is quick and gives you a clear answer either way, with no obligation to do anything afterwards.
Yes, this is very common. Partners, family members and friends often notice changes in someone's hearing, like increased TV volume or frequent mishearing, before that person notices it themselves.
Resonate. The Podcast
Hi, I'm James, an audiologist at Resonate Havelock North. I joined audiology because I wanted to work in an industry that was practical, people-focused, and allowed me to make a real difference to Kiwis lives.
