Most people lose their hearing slowly, over a 15-20 year period. Typically the first sounds to be affected by hearing loss are the higher frequencies which are the most common sounds spoken in English such as p, s, f, t and d and sh, ch, h and soft c. 

Hearing loss is not just the inability to hear sound. Impaired pitch resolution, for example, means the ear doesn't sort out complex sounds in speech, so the brain receives a sort of mishmash. Then you'll hear the listener say "I can't understand what you are saying". When the speaker raises his voice, he or she will say "Don't shout at me". The individual will need a hearing aid that will boost soft sounds and soften the louder sounds.

During that 15-20 year period, hearing is being lost gradually; personality starts to change to accommodate the hearing loss. Perhaps someone who used to be an outgoing person now finds himself/herself staying at home more. If you were to ask that person why he/she is staying at home more, he or she will probably say that it's because he's/she's taken up a hobby that requires him/her to stay home more, it doesn't occur to him/her that perhaps it's because he/she is not hearing as well.

Too often, people with hearing loss will withdraw from social situations. In the past one might say things like "Why bother? I'll just stay home" or "Why spend the money to go to see that play? I'll just miss too much" ... sound familiar?

Here's an example of gradual hearing loss: Imagine that you used to hear birds singing outside your kitchen window, particularly in spring when there is a lot of activity. You find yourself not hearing the birds anymore unless you go outside. Because hearing loss is so gradual, you don't even notice the loss yourself, unless someone happens to mention the loss to you.

Sometimes something will happen to "startle" you out of your "rut". You will be crossing the street and not hear a car coming towards you. You are frightened at how close you were to being hit by that vehicle. After you cool off from your initial shock, you may take a moment to realize that the reason for the close call with the car is that you didn't hear the car coming at you. Perhaps it's true what family and friends have been saying to me. I am not hearing that well. Maybe I need to check that out. You come home and you tell your spouse about your close call. You make an appointment with your doctor who checks your ears to ensure that there is no medical reason for your hearing loss i.e. ear wax, infection, etc.

You could be referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist if a medically treatable cause of the hearing loss is determined. If all is well with your ears with no medical reason for your hearing loss, you will be referred for a hearing test.

A thorough hearing evaluation by an audiologist or hearing aid provider is important to determine the type and degree of hearing loss or what hearing aid options may be available. You make an appointment to get your hearing tested and the results confirm what everyone has been saying to you for ages. You have a hearing loss. You need hearing aids. Now the adventure begins...

Sometimes people have a hard time understanding hearing loss when it comes to their loved one. It is important to understand that your loved one may hear the telephone ringing just fine when standing 2-3 feet away but be unable to hear it when standing 10-15 feet away. You may think to yourself that your loved one is ignoring the telephone ringing, not realizing that the telephone is just a little too far away and your loved one just cannot hear the telephone ringing.

Communication is one of the most important aspects of our lives and our ability to communicate with others is one of the primary aspects of being human. When you lose your hearing, you reduce your ability to communicate effectively and you tend to withdraw from your loved ones.

How many do you answer "yes" to?
1. I have a problem hearing over the telephone?
2. I have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time.
3. People complain that I have the TV/Radio/Stereo volume too loud.
4. I have to strain to understand conversations, just wish that people just talked slower.
5. I miss hearing some common sounds, like the phone or doorbell ringing.
6. I have trouble hearing conversations in a noisy background, such as a party.
7. I get confused about where sounds come from.
8. I misunderstand some words in a sentence and need to ask people to repeat themselves.
9. I especially have trouble understanding the speech of women and/or children.
10. I have worked in noisy environments (near assembly lines, jack hammers, jet engines, etc.)
11. Many people I talk to seem to mumble.
12. People get annoyed because I misunderstand what they say.
13. I misunderstand what others are saying and make inappropriate responses.
14. I avoid social activities because I cannot hear well and fear that I'll reply improperly.
15. Family members or friends mention they think I have a hearing loss.
16. Do you have a blood relative who has a hearing loss?

Hearing loss is generally acknowledged as being the most complex and devastating of all disabilities. It cannot be simulated like other handicaps. Hearing cannot be regained and once you lose your hearing, there is no "cure" or "orthotic" that can be worn to help you hear. The best thing we can do is use a hearing aid, use assistive listening devices and work on our coping techniques (speechreading).