How do I know if I've got hearing problems?

Reviewed by:
Jay Kim
Published on:
November 11, 2022
Updated on:
August 13, 2026

There are many signs that you may not be hearing well that you or others may notice.

You may think people speak quietly or mix up what someone is saying and hear something different.

You may have to look at their faces to help you understand or ask them to repeat what they’ve said. Sounds like birds, an alarm, or the phone ringing may be challenging to hear, or you may need to turn the T.V. volume up louder to hear it, which may be too loud for others.

You may hear ringing or buzzing noises in your ears called tinnitus or find it hard to hear in noisy places.

You may not need hearing aids - but you do need to know how healthy your ears are. Find out more.

You can browse the Hearing Health category page for more on understanding hearing changes.

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