Signs of Hearing Loss: When Should You Get Your Hearing Tested?
Key takeaways
- Hearing loss often develops gradually — many people don't notice it until it significantly affects daily life.
- Asking others to repeat themselves frequently, difficulty following conversations in noise, and turning up the TV are among the most common early signs.
- Adults 50 and older, people with a history of loud noise exposure, and those with certain medical conditions are at higher risk.
- A hearing test (audiogram) performed by a licensed audiologist is the standard way to evaluate hearing.
- Sudden hearing loss — especially in one ear — may require prompt medical evaluation.
Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the United States. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15 percent of American adults — about 37.5 million people — report some degree of hearing difficulty.1 Yet the average person waits seven to ten years from the time they first notice a problem before seeking help.2
That delay has real consequences. Untreated hearing loss is associated with social isolation, communication difficulties, and — in older adults — an increased risk of cognitive decline.3 Recognizing the signs early and knowing when to get tested can make a meaningful difference.
Common signs of hearing loss in adults
Hearing loss rarely announces itself all at once. It typically develops gradually over months or years, which makes it easy to dismiss or attribute to other causes. The following signs are worth paying attention to.
In conversation
- •Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- •Difficulty following conversations when more than one person is speaking
- •Struggling to hear in noisy environments — restaurants, parties, or crowded spaces
- •Feeling that others are mumbling or speaking unclearly
- •Missing parts of sentences, especially the beginnings or ends of words
- •Difficulty hearing on the phone, particularly with voices you don't know well
With media and devices
- •Turning up the television or radio to a volume others find too loud
- •Needing subtitles or closed captions to follow dialogue
- •Difficulty hearing audio from a phone or tablet at normal volume
In daily life
- •Missing doorbells, alarms, or ringing phones
- •Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds — birds, children's voices, or certain consonants
- •Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears) — which can accompany hearing loss
- •Withdrawing from social situations because conversations feel too effortful
- •Fatigue after conversations that require intense concentration to follow
Signs that others may notice first
Because hearing loss develops gradually, the people around you may notice it before you do. Common observations from family members or colleagues include:
- •Commenting that the TV is too loud
- •Noticing that you frequently ask them to repeat themselves
- •Observing that you respond to questions with answers that don't quite match — suggesting you heard something different
- •Noticing that you seem inattentive or distracted in group conversations
If someone close to you has raised concerns about your hearing, it is worth taking seriously — even if you feel your hearing is fine.
Who is at higher risk?
While hearing loss can affect anyone at any age, certain factors increase the likelihood:
- •Age: Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the most common cause of hearing loss in adults. The NIDCD reports that approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, rising to nearly half of those 75 and older.
- •Noise exposure: Repeated or prolonged exposure to loud sounds — occupational noise, power tools, concerts, or firearms — is a leading preventable cause of hearing loss.
- •Certain medications: Some drugs, including specific chemotherapy agents, high-dose aspirin, and certain antibiotics, can damage hearing. These are called ototoxic medications.
- •Medical history: Conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and a history of ear infections or head injuries are associated with increased hearing loss risk.
- •Family history: Genetic factors can predispose some individuals to hearing loss.
- •Sex: Men are more likely to develop hearing loss than women, partly due to higher rates of occupational and recreational noise exposure.
When should you get your hearing tested?
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends that adults have their hearing screened at least once per decade through age 50, and every three years after that.4 However, you should consider scheduling a hearing evaluation sooner if:
- •You recognize several of the signs described above
- •A family member or colleague has expressed concern about your hearing
- •You work in a noisy environment or have a history of significant noise exposure
- •You are 50 or older and have not had a hearing test recently
- •You have been prescribed a medication known to affect hearing
- •You have experienced a sudden change in your hearing
Sudden hearing loss requires prompt medical attention
If you experience a sudden, rapid loss of hearing — particularly in one ear — do not wait to schedule a routine appointment. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is considered a medical emergency by many audiologists and ENT physicians. Prompt evaluation and treatment may improve outcomes. Contact your doctor, an ENT specialist, or an urgent care provider as soon as possible. Learn more about sudden hearing loss.
What happens during a hearing test?
A comprehensive hearing evaluation is typically performed by a licensed audiologist and includes several components. The most common is pure-tone audiometry, in which you listen to tones at different frequencies and volumes through headphones and indicate when you can hear them. The results are plotted on a chart called an audiogram, which shows the softest sounds you can hear at each frequency.
Other tests may include speech audiometry (testing how well you understand spoken words), tympanometry (assessing middle ear function), and others depending on your symptoms and history.
The test is painless and typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. At the end, the audiologist will review your results with you and discuss what they mean.
Learn how to read an audiogram →
Online hearing screenings
Online hearing screenings — including the one available on this site — can be a useful first step. They are not a substitute for a comprehensive audiological evaluation, but they can help you identify whether a professional evaluation may be warranted.
Take the HearingAids.md hearing screening →
What to do if you think you have hearing loss
If you recognize signs of hearing loss in yourself, the next step is to schedule an evaluation with a licensed audiologist or your primary care physician. Your doctor can rule out treatable causes — such as earwax blockage or ear infection — and refer you to an audiologist if needed.
An audiologist can perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation, explain your results, and discuss your options — which may include hearing aids, assistive listening devices, or other interventions depending on the type and degree of your hearing loss.
Find a hearing professional near you →
Frequently asked questions
Can hearing loss be reversed?
It depends on the cause. Hearing loss caused by earwax blockage or ear infection is often treatable. Sensorineural hearing loss — the most common type in adults, caused by damage to the inner ear — is generally not reversible, but it can often be effectively managed with hearing aids or other devices.
Is it normal to have hearing loss in only one ear?
Hearing loss in one ear (unilateral hearing loss) can occur and has several possible causes, including noise exposure, viral infection, Meniere's disease, or acoustic neuroma. It warrants evaluation by an audiologist or ENT physician, particularly if it developed suddenly.
At what age should I start getting hearing tests?
ASHA recommends hearing screening at least every decade through age 50, and every three years after that. However, if you have risk factors — noise exposure, family history, certain medical conditions — earlier and more frequent testing is appropriate.
Can I test my own hearing at home?
Online hearing screenings can give you a general sense of whether your hearing may be affected, but they are not a substitute for a comprehensive audiological evaluation. A professional evaluation uses calibrated equipment and provides a complete picture of your hearing across all frequencies.
Does hearing loss affect memory or thinking?
Research suggests an association between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults, though the relationship is complex and not fully understood. Treating hearing loss does not guarantee prevention of cognitive decline, but some studies suggest that hearing aid use may be beneficial. Speak with your doctor if you have concerns.
Sources
- 1. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Quick Statistics About Hearing. nidcd.nih.gov. Accessed September 2026.
- 2. Kochkin S. MarkeTrak VIII: 25-year trends in the hearing health market. Hearing Review. 2009.
- 3. Lin FR, et al. Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2013;173(4):293–299.
- 4. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Hearing Screening. asha.org. Accessed September 2026.