Symptoms of hearing loss include:

• Muffled hearing.
• Difficulty understanding what people are saying, especially when there are competing voices or background noise. You may be able to hear someone speaking, but you cannot distinguish the specific words.
• Listening to the television or radio at higher volume than in the past.
• Avoiding conversation and social interaction. Social situations can be tiring and stressful if you do not hear well. You may begin to avoid those situations as hearing becomes more difficult.
• Depression. Many adults may be depressed because of how hearing loss is affecting their social life.

Other symptoms that may occur with hearing loss include:

• Ringing, roaring, hissing, or buzzing in the ear (tinnitus).
• Ear pain, itching, or irritation.
• Pus or fluid leaking from the ear. This may result from an injury or infection that is causing hearing loss.
• Vertigo, which can occur with hearing loss caused by M�ni�re's disease, acoustic neuroma, or labyrinthitis.

People who have hearing loss are sometimes not aware of it. Family members or friends often are the first to notice the hearing loss. Evaluate your hearing by taking a hearing loss self-test.