As a hearing care specialist, one of the phrases I hear most often in the clinic is: “I feel like I can hear, but I can’t understand what people are saying to me.” That’s exactly the moment we start talking about something that affects millions of people worldwide, yet many people struggle to recognise in time: hearing loss.
In this article, drawing on my experience and in plain language, I want to explain what signs might indicate your hearing is starting to decline, why it’s so important to catch this early, and what steps you can take if any of these symptoms sound familiar.
What is hearing loss?
Hearing loss is a reduced ability to hear sounds. It can affect one or both ears and range in degree from mild to profound. It doesn’t always appear suddenly — in many cases, it’s a gradual process that goes unnoticed for years.
What happens is that the cells of the inner ear (known as hair cells) can wear out over time, or due to factors such as noise, illness, ototoxic medications, or simply age. And once damaged, these cells don’t regenerate.
Main signs of hearing loss
Recognising the early symptoms of hearing loss can make a real difference to your quality of life. Here are some signs that could indicate you’re losing your hearing:
- Difficulty following conversations: If you find it hard to understand what people are saying, especially in noisy environments or when several people are talking at once, it could be a sign of hearing loss. This difficulty happens because speech sounds blend with background noise, making it harder to make out words.
- Turning up the TV or radio: Have people told you the volume is too loud? If you need to turn up electronic devices to hear clearly, your hearing may be declining.
- Asking people to repeat themselves: Frequently asking people to repeat what they just said can be a sign you’re not fully picking up sounds. This can be frustrating both for you and for the people you’re talking to.
- Feeling like people are mumbling: If you feel like people are speaking quietly or mumbling, when they’re actually speaking clearly, you may be experiencing hearing loss.
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds: Hearing loss usually affects high-frequency sounds first, such as women’s or children’s voices, or sounds like a phone ringing or birdsong.
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus): Tinnitus is the perception of sound with no external source. If you experience ringing, buzzing or whistling in your ears, it could be a sign of hearing loss.
- Avoiding social situations: Difficulty hearing can lead people to avoid social gatherings, phone calls or events with lots of people, because of the effort involved in following conversations.
What types of hearing loss are there?
In the clinic, we assess different forms of hearing loss. Here are the most common:
- Sensorineural: the most common type. Affects the inner ear or the auditory nerve. Usually permanent.
- Conductive: occurs when something blocks the transmission of sound (blockages, infections, fluid).
- Mixed: a combination of both of the above.
Each requires a different approach, which is why a proper assessment matters so much.
Why is it important to catch it early?
Untreated hearing loss doesn’t just affect your ability to hear. It can have far-reaching effects on your wellbeing:
- Social isolation and depression.
- Difficulties at work or in education.
- Mental fatigue.
- Higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 60% of hearing loss cases are preventable, and if caught early, can be effectively treated or compensated for.
What are the most common causes?
Here’s a list of the most common causes I see in the clinic:
- Prolonged noise exposure (factory work, concerts, headphones at high volume).
- Presbycusis: age-related hearing loss.
- Infections (such as otitis).
- Chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Family history.
- Certain medications.
- Head trauma.
How do you know if you need a hearing check-up?
If one or more of these sound familiar:
- You’re over 55 and have never had your hearing checked.
- You struggle to understand friends or family.
- You avoid talking on the phone.
- You notice sounds in your ears that weren’t there before.
- You’ve been exposed to noise for long periods of time.
Then yes: it’s time for a hearing test.
How do we assess hearing?
At our hearing centre in Valencia, when someone comes in suspecting hearing loss, we follow a simple, painless process:
- Full case history: we talk about your symptoms, medical history and daily routines.
- Otoscopy: to check the state of the outer ear and detect earwax or infections.
- Pure-tone audiometry: to measure your ability to hear different sounds and frequencies.
- Speech audiometry: to check how well you understand words.
With these results, we can tell whether there’s hearing loss, what type, and to what degree.
What can we do for you if you suspect you’re losing your hearing?
If you think you might be losing your hearing, the first step isn’t to look for a solution on your own — it’s to come and see us. At our hearing centre in Valencia, we carry out a complete assessment to find out exactly what’s going on. It could be something as simple as an earwax blockage or temporary inflammation, but there could also be hearing loss that needs a more specific approach.
This isn’t about “just putting on a hearing aid and that’s it”. It’s about carrying out a personalised assessment, with tests that let us understand your specific case and, if needed, find the best solution for you.
If you do need hearing help, there are very discreet, comfortable devices suited to every lifestyle. We support you through the whole process, from the test to the fitting, at your own pace, with all the follow-up you need to feel like yourself again.
What are the benefits of treating hearing loss?
Treating hearing loss improves your quality of life on every level:
- You get conversations back.
- You feel more confident walking, driving or working.
- You get to enjoy sounds again that you’d forgotten about.
- You reduce the mental effort of communicating.
- You help prevent cognitive decline.
Many people also discover that what they thought was “normal” (like living with ringing in the ears or turning up the volume) wasn’t normal at all.
Tips for looking after your hearing
Prevention is key to maintaining good hearing health. Here are a few tips:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to loud noise: Use hearing protection in noisy environments and limit headphone use at high volumes.
- Keep good ear hygiene: Clean your ears carefully and avoid inserting objects that could damage them.
- Get regular hearing check-ups: Especially if you have a family history of hearing loss, or work in noisy environments.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle: A balanced diet and regular exercise can support your overall health, including your hearing.
Hearing loss is a common condition that can affect people of any age. Recognising the early signs and acting in time is essential for preserving your hearing and maintaining a good quality of life. As a hearing care specialist, I’m here to help you assess your hearing and offer you the best solutions suited to your needs.
If you have any doubts or suspect you’re losing your hearing, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Come and visit us at our hearing centre at Juan Llorens 7, or call us on 960 659 592 or message us on WhatsApp at 621 00 16 93 to book your appointment. Together, we can find the best way to look after your hearing health.
Because hearing well isn’t a luxury — it’s health
