What You Need to Know About Hearing Loss

How common is hearing loss

A recent study showed that one in six (3.55 million) Australians have hearing loss. Half of the people with hearing loss are aged under 65.

Hearing loss is more common than cardiovascular disease, diabetes, injury, asthma or cancer.

Common signs of hearing loss

The first signs of hearing loss can be hard to notice and may include:

• Having trouble hearing in noisy places
• Having trouble hearing conversations and understanding what people say
• Have trouble understanding people unless they are facing you, or often needing to ask people to repeat themselves
• Sounds are muffled, as though people are mumbling
• Turning up the TV louder than other people
• Often missing your phone or the doorbell ringing
• Hearing a buzzing or ringing in your ears
• Finding that loud noises cause you more discomfort than before