What symptoms suggest hearing loss?

Other related symptoms commonly accompany hearing problems. These may include ear fullness or pressure, ear noises (ringing, buzzing, crickets, seashells, steams, and others) and dizziness.

The most obvious symptom is inability to hear, of course. However, hearing loss sneaks up on people. Often family members and friends are aware of hearing problems before the hearing impaired person. Many people with subtle, occult hearing loss of this sort find themselves saying “what” more frequently, offering inappropriate answers because they have misheard a conversation or question, or start going out and socializing less. Increased levels of frustration and irritability are also common.

There are many other symptoms that may be related to hearing loss. Hearing loss is not always slowly progressive and stable from day to day. It may be sudden, rapidly progressive, or even fluctuating (good times and bad times). Sometimes difficulty understanding speech is more prominent than inability to hear speech.