×
CTA image Request An Appointment

I can hear, just not clearly. Do I have hearing loss?

3 Min read

3rd Mar 2020

What’s the number one complaint hearing care professionals hear from new patients with hearing loss?

“I can hear, but I can’t understand.” If this is what you’re experiencing, you may have hearing loss.

 

Hearing loss involves not only the ears, but also the brain where sound is translated into meaningful words. Symptoms that vary between people. Hearing loss comes in all degrees from mild to profound. But most people, especially older adults, have mild-to-moderate hearing loss, especially the type that makes it harder to hear high-pitched sounds. In this case, the only symptom may be difficulty with word understanding, especially in situations where there is competing noise.

 

Peter & Georgina Howie - audiology testimonial

 

Hearing vs. understanding

When your hearing is tested, the results are plotted on an audiogram. People with high-frequency hearing loss are said to have a “sloping” hearing loss. If you have a sloping hearing loss, it means you are able to hear low-pitched sounds, (sounds below 1000 Hz), sometimes even as clearly as someone with normal hearing. But, high-pitched sounds (sounds above 1000 Hz) need to be much louder before you can hear them.

While not always the case, high-frequency hearing loss is often the cause of feeling like you can hear but can’t understand.

Did you say parrot or ferret?

In speech, the vowel sounds (A, E, I, O and U) are low in pitch while consonant sounds like S, F, Th, Sh, V, K, P and others are high in pitch. Being able to hear vowel sounds is helpful and will alert you that speech is present, but it’s the consonant sounds that give speech meaning and help you distinguish one word from another. Without being able to hear subtle differences between consonants, words like “cat” and “hat,” “parrot” and “ferret” and “show” and “throw” can be hard to differentiate. This is why so many people with high-frequency hearing losses brought about by natural aging (presbycusis) or excessive noise exposure have difficulty understanding even when they know sound is present.

 

Trouble hearing with background noise

If you have a high-frequency hearing loss, you may notice problems understanding speech even in a relatively quiet environment, but when background noise is present or several people are talking at once, it can become nearly impossible to follow a conversation. People with hearing loss that has gone untreated for a number of years sometimes begin to avoid lively social situations or public places they once enjoyed because interacting with others is too difficult.

Signs of high-frequency hearing loss

When you have a high frequency hearing loss, you may have trouble:

  • following conversations in quiet and noisy places (hear but can’t understand).
  • talking on the phone.
  • understanding your favorite TV shows or movies even when you turn the volume up.
  • understanding female and young children’s voices because they tend to be higher in pitch.
  • enjoying music because it sounds distorted, especially at higher volumes.
  • feeling exhausted from listening

Family members, friends and work colleagues can get frustrated and feel you aren’t listening to them when they speak to you. Your spouse may accuse you of having “selective hearing.” You may accuse others of mumbling. Sometimes, you will answer questions inappropriately and miss the punch lines of jokes. Other times, you may resort to smiling and nodding when someone speaks to give the impression you are listening when in fact, you do not understand what was just said. Untreated hearing loss can take a toll on relationships, careers and your daily life.

 

Don’t accept difficult hearing

If your hearing test reveals hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify the high pitches you’ve been missing without amplifying low-pitched sounds. Once you begin wearing hearing aids, you will notice improvement with understanding speech and you may even notice you’re hearing sounds that have long been forgotten. For instance, some new hearing aid wearers are pleasantly surprised to hear the soft chirping of songbirds for the first time in years. You will once again be able to hear that beeping sound your microwave makes, your car’s turn signal and your phone ringing.

If you can hear, but can’t understand, you’re not alone. This is what we hear almost every day from our patients, and we are highly skilled at getting to the root of the problem, listening to your concerns and finding a solution that meets your needs. Don’t give up on enjoying conversations at work, home and play.

Contact your nearest branch to book your full hearing assessment today.

 

Source: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/32039-I-can-hear-just
Request an Appointment
Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon Director of Audiology

Share this article

Related Articles

featured-image

Join our Better Hearing Challenge

Rediscover Clear Conversations with Our Better Hearing Challenge Do you find yourself yearning to rediscover the joy of clear conversations? Are noisy environments making it challenging to hear speech, leaving…

3 Min read

3rd Jan 2024

Read More
featured-image

Struggling with hearing aid batteries? We have the solution

Hearing aids are crucial for those experiencing hearing loss. They allow you to maintain your independence and continue enjoying the things you love. However, dealing with traditional hearing aid batteries…

2 Min read

18th Sep 2023

Read More
featured-image

Our top 3 discreet, invisible hearing aids at Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon

In the world of hearing aids, there are numerous options that cater to different needs, lifestyles, and personal preferences. If you prioritise discretion and invisibility in your hearing aid, you’re…

3 Min read

13th Sep 2023

Read More
Not sure where to begin?

Try our new hearing helper

If you are not sure where to begin with solving your hearing problems we have put together a few questions to help us tailor our support to your needs and guide you to the right place for information that might help.

Do you suffer from hearing loss?

Do you think your issue could be related to a build-up of ear wax?

From the information you have given, you may need Ear Wax removal treatment. An audiologist can asses your situation at your appointment and perform the treatment required. If no wax is present the audiologist will advise you accordingly.

Do the people around you seem to mumble and not speak clearly?

Do you tend to go out less because it is hard for you to follow other people's conversations?

Has anyone ever told you that they often have to repeat things to you?

Is it difficult for you to follow other people's conversations in noisy environments, for example, in restaurants?

Do you find yourself having to turn up the television or radio to hear speech better?

Based on your answers so far, it looks like you might be experiencing hearing loss

Do you currently wear hearing aids?

In order to provide you with the bespoke care we offer to all of our customers, we need to know where you are in your journey to better hearing.

Choose the option that best describes your concern with your hearing

Based on your answers, we will be able to help you on your journey to better hearing

Fill out the details below and we'll be in touch to arrange your appointment.

Thank you, we aim to contact you on the same day as your enquiry

Until we speak with you, from the information you have provided, the following pages may help:

Request Appointment

Call us to make an appointment on 01905 617803 (Worcester) or 01789 264111 (Stratford-upon-Avon) or complete the form below.

    View our privacy policy