Hearing loss tends to develop gradually. For many Australians, the changes are so subtle at first that they are easy to dismiss — or attribute to background noise, a noisy restaurant, or simply "not paying attention." But in many cases, the ears are quietly signalling that something has shifted.
The good news is that noticing these changes early gives you more options. Here are seven signs that it may be worth booking a hearing assessment.
1. You Ask People to Repeat Themselves
This is one of the most common early indicators. If you find yourself regularly saying "sorry?" or "could you say that again?" — particularly in conversation with just one other person in a quiet room — it is worth paying attention to. We should add that sometimes you will not notice this but your family or friends may mention it to you. Often the significant other, family member or friend notices this first because they are the ones that have to repeat the conversation, and this is harder than just saying “What”.
2. Following Conversations in Noisy Environments Has Become Harder
The ability to pick out speech in background noise — a café, a family gathering, a busy shopping centre — is often one of the first things affected by age-related hearing change.
If you find yourself nodding along without fully following what is being said, or avoiding social situations because they feel exhausting to navigate, it may be worth exploring why. Many people describe this as one of the most noticeable early changes.
3. You Have Turned the TV Volume Up Higher Than Others Find Necessary
A classic sign, and one that family members often notice before the person with the hearing change does. If your household has started negotiating the TV volume, or if others have commented that the volume you prefer is quite loud, it is a simple but telling observation.
4. Phone Calls Feel Difficult
On the phone, you do not have the benefit of lip movement, facial expression, or visual cues to help your brain fill in the gaps. For people experiencing early hearing changes, phone conversations can become noticeably harder than face-to-face conversations — particularly if the caller speaks quickly or has an unfamiliar accent.
5. You Miss Parts of Conversations Without Realising Until Later
Sometimes the issue is not obvious in the moment. You might be in a conversation and later realise you misunderstood something significant — a time, a name, an instruction — because you heard words but not quite the right ones.
This kind of "fill in the blank" listening happens because the brain compensates for the gaps. It is a useful skill, but it can also mask the extent of a hearing change until the gaps become too large to bridge.
6. High-Pitched Sounds Are Harder to Hear
Birdsong, high-pitched voices, consonants like "s", "f", "th", and "sh" — high-frequency sounds are often the first to become muffled with age-related hearing change. You may find voices still seem loud enough, but speech sounds unclear or like people are mumbling.
If you notice you can hear that someone is talking but cannot quite make out what they are saying, this pattern is worth mentioning to an audiologist.
7. You Have a Ringing or Buzzing in Your Ears
Tinnitus — a ringing, buzzing, humming, or hissing sound in one or both ears — is not always linked to hearing loss, but the two often occur together. Tinnitus can be occasional or persistent, and it can vary in intensity.
While tinnitus has many possible causes, if you have recently noticed these sounds, an audiologist can help assess whether there is any associated hearing change and discuss management approaches that may be suitable for your situation.
What Is "Normal" and What Is Worth Checking?
It is important to be honest with yourself here. Some degree of change in hearing is common with age — but "common" does not mean it should not be evaluated. If you noticed you weren’t seeing as clearly or your hands were not moving as well as they used to, you’d have them checked out, hearing is no different, if you are starting to notice signs that you are missing things or it is not as easy as when you were younger - you should have this tested. Modern hearing aids and management strategies have come a long way, and there is a significant difference between hearing changes that can be helped and those that are simply going unaddressed.
If you have ticked two or more of the signs above, a hearing assessment is a sensible next step. It is not a commitment to any product or treatment — it is simply information about your hearing, gathered by a professional, so you can make informed decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I be thinking about my hearing? Hearing can change at any age, but gradual age-related hearing loss most commonly becomes noticeable from the mid-50s onwards. If you have been exposed to loud environments — work, machinery, music — earlier monitoring may be worthwhile.
Could these signs just be earwax? Possibly. Earwax buildup is a surprisingly common cause of muffled or blocked hearing, and it is easily addressed. An audiologist or clinician can check for this and, if necessary, perform a safe earwax removal procedure such as microsuction.
Do I have to have hearing aids? Not necessarily. A hearing assessment provides a picture of your hearing at a point in time. Depending on the result, your audiologist may simply recommend monitoring your hearing periodically, or they may discuss options if support seems appropriate. Everyone's situation is different.
Is a hearing assessment uncomfortable? A standard hearing assessment is straightforward and non-invasive. It should however be comprehensive - just a quick check with headphones. It should include checking of the outer ear, measures of middle ear function, headphones with beeps and a bone conductor with beeps, speech testing and speech in noise testing - other assessments are required especially in non-standard losses. It should also involve comprehensive discussion so the client and their family understand the results and recommendations.
A Gentle Next Step
Noticing changes in your hearing is not something to feel worried about — it is actually a prompt to take care of something important. The earlier a hearing change is identified, the more options you have available.
If any of the signs above sound familiar, we would encourage you to book a comprehensive hearing assessment with our team at Hearing Help. There is no pressure, and no obligation — just a clear, professional picture of where your hearing is right now.
Book a hearing assessment with our team or call us to find out what the process involves.