Think about your everyday experiences and answer Yes or No to each question.
1. Do you hear people talking but miss some of the words?
2. Do you frequently ask people to repeat or rephrase what they said?
3. Is conversation difficult to follow in restaurants, crowds, or other noisy places?
4. Do you lose track of conversations when several people are speaking?
5. Do you turn the television or radio louder than other people prefer?
6. Do you struggle to understand phone calls, even when the volume seems loud enough?
7. Does it often seem that people are mumbling or speaking unclearly?
8. Have family members or friends mentioned that you sometimes miss what they say?
9. Do you feel frustrated or embarrassed because you cannot follow a conversation?
10. Do you avoid social activities because hearing and understanding people is difficult?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions and it happens regularly or affects your daily life, consider scheduling a hearing evaluation. This self-check cannot diagnose hearing loss or determine whether you need hearing aids.
Schedule a Hearing EvaluationA sudden decrease in hearing—over hours or a few days—needs immediate medical attention. Don’t wait for a routine appointment.
These questions are an informal self-check informed by NIDCD hearing-health guidance, not a scored diagnostic questionnaire. Learn about sudden hearing loss.
