Hearing Loss Quiz
It is very difficult to take an on-line hearing test. Our test suites and equipment must be calibrated for each patient, all the way down to the earphones. The best substitute that we have been able to devise for an on-line hearing loss quiz is a series of questions that you may ask yourself.
As you go down the questions, think about how you feel about your answers and admit to yourself if you are having problems. Generally, 10% of the general population has serious hearing problems (including a third of the people over 65 and three fourths of the people over 75). The only way to be sure about your hearing ability is to be tested by an audiologist using up-to-date and calibrated equipment.
You can print these question out and write your answers down, but all you truly need to do is answer them and think about your answers. Related topics can be found elsewhere at this web site.
- Do you experience ringing or noises in your ears?
- Do you hear better with one ear than the other?
- Have any of your relatives (by birth) had a hearing loss?
- Have you had any significant noise exposure at work, during recreation, or in the military service?
- Do you find yourself asking people to speak up or repeat themselves?
- Do you sometimes have difficulty understanding speech on the phone?
- Do you prefer to have your spouse (or someone on your staff) make important phone calls for you?
- Do you favor a particular ear for phone calls, even when it might be more convent to use the other ear?
- Do you have trouble understanding people who are trying to talk to you at parties or in restaurants?
- Do you have difficulty meeting people in noisy situations, like at a bar?
- Have you ever been embarrassed about not hearing correctly what was said at a party? Do you have difficulty understanding, when talking with someone at a party while others are also talking?
- Are you able to fully participate in the conversation at dinner parties or at conventions where you are forced to eat dinner with a group of people?
- Do you always try to sit next to your spouse at dinner parties because s/he will help you with missed communications or questions?
- Do you complain that people mumble?
- Do your friends and family complain that you play the TV too loudly?
- Do you find that you have arguments with family members that turn out to be misunderstandings?
- Do you show up for appointments at the wrong time?
- Is your television sound unclear (muddy sounding), even when you turn the volume up higher than others would like it to be?
- Do you find yourself denying having a hearing problem?
- Do you watch people's lips instead of their eyes when you are carrying on a private conversation, perhaps an important sales presentation?
- Do you ask others about the details of a meeting that you just attended?
- Do you have difficulty understanding the questions asked at a meeting: When you are the speaker and need to answer the question? When someone else is the speaker and seems to have no trouble hearing the question?
- Does background noise, such as a view graph projector, seem to cause you more trouble hearing at meetings than it causes the majority of people? Do you try to sit away from such noise makers?
- Do you regularly try to sit near the front of the room at meetings? Is it because you sometimes have difficulty hearing?
- Do you have trouble hearing all of what goes on at the theater or in religious services?
- Do you hear background noises when you are in a quiet location? These sometimes sound like insects, or whistles.
- Do your ears hurt after concerts? Do they ever feel deadened for a while after attending a concert? How about after mowing the grass or working in your shop? Do you regularly wear ear plugs in noisy situations?
- Can you reliably hear your wrist watch alarm? How about the turn signal clickers in your car? How about that cute little portable alarm clock you got for travel?
- Do others leave you out of conversations because you can't hear them as well as they can hear each other?
If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you may have a hearing problem. It is recommended that you see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation.
DISCLAIMER: If you suspect you have hearing loss in one or both ears,
or any problems with your ears or hearing, we strongly recommend that
you see a hearing healthcare professional. Although this written test
is based on common audiology beliefs and principles, it is not a substitute
for an actual hearing test performed by a licensed professional. This
test is offered to you strictly as a guideline to help you determine whether
or not you are experiencing signs and symptoms consistent with hearing
loss. We recommend that you print this test and your responses and review
them with your hearing healthcare professional.
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