Do you need a hearing test or are the people around you just speaking too quietly? That's a question that many people ask themselves multiple times before they finally schedule an appointment at the audiologist's office. Typically, a person is told by his or her spouse that he or she can't hear enough repeatedly before he or she finally pays attention. Initially, the person with the deafness thinks it's the other person. His wife speaks too softly; her husband mutters all the time. Sound familiar? If it begins to happen more often than not, it would beneficial to have a screening performed to rule out any problems. If it turns out that your pass your evaluation with flying colors, you can breathe a sigh of relief. If it turns out that you are suffering from some level of loss, you can take steps to correct it.

Telltale Signs

There are certain signs that point to the need for a hearing test. Have you noticed that you have to turn the volume up on the television or radio louder than you used to? Does background noise interfere with your ability to understand what others are saying? When a person suffers from a loss of the ability to perceive sound, he or she will begin to detest loud restaurants or crowded and noisy parties. What used to be a fun room full of people now becomes a frustrating experience. Being unable to hear what your dinner partner is saying can make dining unpleasant. Another sign is constantly asking people to repeat themselves. Monitor yourself for a couple of days; if you notice yourself saying, "What?" more than a couple of times, you may need a screening.

What it Might Be

If you have lost some of your ability to hear, it might be something that can be easily corrected. In fact, it could be as simple as excessive wax in your ear canal. If this is the case, your family doctor can irrigate your ear to flush the wax out. You may also have an infection which can cause the tubes and pathways within your ear to swell up and block sound waves from doing their job. If that's the case, your physician can prescribe antibiotics and you'll be back to normal soon. On the other hand, you might need to have an evaluation such as an audiogram which will show varying degrees of loss. If this becomes your diagnosis, amplification devices can be prescribed to help you hear.

If your spouse has told you over and over that you need to have a hearing test performed, you might want to listen up. Being able to perceive sounds is an important part of living a high quality life. If you need help being able to access the world through your ears, schedule an appointment with an audiologist.