Has anyone here felt as if she was losing her hearing...

[unsinkable]

but upon testing, you found out you weren't.

For a while now, it seems as if I just can't hear the way I used to. And I'm scared to do anything about it.

Anyone have anything like this happen and it turned out OK?

[abbeyej]

My dad has had his tested twice for this reason. He finally determined that the real problem was my teenage sister mumbling. ;)

(BTW, I didn't mean to seem callous in joking about this a bit. I know it must be very scary, and I hope you get an answer soon...)

[mcconnellboys]

Well, LOL, I don't know whether you'd say it's turned out okay..... I've become hard of hearing over the past 7 years or so. The docs finally checked my hearing one year after I'd had a fluid filled ear that it took them about 3 months to clear up. The person doing the checking yelled everything so loudly that I'm not at all certain how she could objectively check anyone else's hearing, LOL, but she said I was okay. I still can't hear a bit better 4 years later. Maybe they just can't pick up the hearing loss and do anything about it until it reaches a greater level of loss....??? I'm not sure.....

Regena

[Jenny in Atl]

Could it be wax build-up?

[jacqui in mo]

What exactly makes you think you are losing your hearing? Is it in noisy environments (Like, say, having 4 kids talking at once ;o) that make you feel this way? Sometimes lack of concentration can make you feel like you're not understanding things like you should. If you've not been getting enough sleep & are really fatigued it can affect your comprehension sometimes. What kind of hearing test did you have? Was it a screening test in a doctor's office or was it a full test done by an audiologist? When you're in a quiet environment can you hear soft noises like the ticking of a clock? Can you hear the kids if they whisper (not necessarily be able to tell what they are saying, but be able to pick up on the fact they are whispering?) If you can hear things like that you're probably ok. If you really think more is going on though you might want to have a repeat of your testing in another facility, or if you haven't had it done by an Audiologist, go that route.
Hope your hearing is really ok.
Jacqui (speech therapist)

[Tap, tap, tap]

Often people who have naturally "super" hearing can notice a change more that others as their hearing ability comes into the more normal range. If you are tested, your hearing will be in the normal range, but you have actually noticed a difference for You!

You can also be moving toward the bottom or lower end of normal when you used to be in the high end. This change may be apparent to you, but not significant to the doctor unless as tested you over several years.


I also notice I have a harder time hearing during allergy season...I assume it is the excess fluid in my ears.

I have had extensive hearing and ear equilibrium testing done. One thing I found interesting is that one of my ears hears fine in a room with a lot of back ground noise, but the other can barely hear. Then the other ear is better in close up situations. My audiologist said this is normal and that is one of the complaints people first notice as they age. Their hearing can be in the normal range but since one ear preforms better than the other, you may notice that they both used be at that higher level.

[Pamela H in Texas]

Could it be the auditory processing that is changing? Mine has changed significantly. I HATE it as it makes me feel dumb :( Being blonde doesn't help! LOL

Do you have any autoimmune issues? any other neurological symptoms?

[Karin]

Often people who have naturally "super" hearing can notice a change more that others as their hearing ability comes into the more normal range. If you are tested, your hearing will be in the normal range, but you have actually noticed a difference for You!
.

Yes, that's me. I could hear the bats in our neighbourhood, for example (where I grew up). I could hear that a TV was on even when the volume was completely off. Etc. Even at 28 that frequency level was that of an 18 yo, but the others had declined. So, at about 40 I went and had my hearing tested because I'd be sitting in a room and dh would hear my ds crying and I wouldn't. My hearing came out perfectly normal, and the MD called it selective hearing, but I disagree because I would try and hear it. I cannot hear when there's a lot of background noise, and that could be a sign of hearing loss, but it could also be due to fluid buildup from my allergies. Since my dad is deaf and his maternal grandfather was, plus my mother's father, it is a concern for me.