It’s perfectly natural to miss the occasional noise, mishear a name or have trouble keeping up with conversation in a noisy restaurant. But these could also be vital clues to your hearing health.

Hearing loss can creep up extremely slowly, often going unnoticed for years. This makes the early warning signs extremely important. But when does everyday hearing trouble end and treatable hearing loss begin?

Our partners at Connect Hearing have compiled this invaluable list of warning signs to watch out for.

If you have noticed the following problems, or suspected a loved one has struggled with the same, you can follow up on these concerns immediately – right here and now, from and from the comfort of your own home. Click here to take a quick, free online test.

What do the early stages of hearing loss feel like?

At first, your hearing may seem fine, but the actual act of listening may feel a little more difficult. This increased effort in hearing is experienced particularly in busy public places with plenty of background noise.

If you find yourself feeling more exhausted in these situations, it may be a sign that your hearing needs attention. Early intervention can make an enormous difference to your long-term health, so it’s worth acting sooner rather than later.

What does mild hearing loss feel like?

Mild hearing loss can make it more difficult to pick up softer noises or keep up with conversations in loud environments.

If you find yourself unable to pick up words spoken far away or by people out of view, be sure to book that hearing test.

It’s worth noting that even at this stage, hearing loss can remain difficult to recognise. Certain frequencies could be muted while others are heard loud and clear. As human speech covers a wide spectrum, everyday words may sound subtly different and harder to understand.

What does moderate or severe hearing loss feel like?

At this stage, hearing any conversation at all can be difficult unless in a quiet environment.

No matter what the stage of hearing loss, these extra warning signs could also offer a clue something is amiss:

Additional warning signs of hearing loss

• Your phone on your TV or phone at or near maximum volume.
• People have commented that you’re speaking too loudly. (Hearing loss can also affect your ability to regulate your own voice.)
• You find yourself misunderstanding others frequently.

Do any of these difficulties seem familiar?
Click here to take an online hearing test today.

This post is sponsored by Connect Hearing and written independently by the Starts at 60 team. For more information, please visit the Connect Hearing website.