What Does Hearing Loss Sound Like?

Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common conditions that affects people as they age. Over time, it makes it harder to hear everyday sounds and conversations, which can impact quality of life. Luckily, it doesn't have to. There are some very cool assistive hearing devices that help turn up the volume of the world around you. Have you ever wondered what age-related hearing loss sounds like or what things sound like to someone who wears a hearing aid? Hearing loss can make simple, everyday conversations aggravating. With normal hearing, voices are easy to hear. With age-related hearing loss, those once-clear voices become muffled and can even disappear altogether. And with a little help from hearing aids, those muted voices become audible once again. Hanging out with family and friends is an important part of staying connected and happy. When you have normal hearing, background noises don't interfere with the voices you need to hear and the high-pitched voices of grandkids are still audible. With hearing loss, those background noises make it impossible to hear the voices calling to you, and the sweet sounds of your grandkids' voices all but disappear. A hearing aid can help isolate the voices you want to hear and amps up the volume so that you can better follow the action. Hearing loss can even put a damper on simple joys like listening to music. With normal hearing, musical instruments and singers' voices are clear and present. But with hearing loss, instruments get muted and muffled, and it's hard to hear those sweet serenades. Music may not sound exactly as it did when you were 25, but it can become enjoyable again with the right hearing aid. Age-related hearing loss may be an inevitable part of getting older, but thanks to advances in hearing aids and other assistive hearing devices, it doesn't have to hold you back.