One of the most common phrases among people who begin to experience hearing loss is: “I can hear people speaking to me, but I can’t clearly understand what they are saying.”
This situation can occur especially when several people are speaking, there is background noise or the conversation takes place at a certain distance.
At Auz Audiology, a hearing centre in San Fulgencio, we explain why this can happen and when it is advisable to have a hearing check.
Hearing and Understanding Are Not Always the Same Thing
Hearing loss does not necessarily mean that you stop hearing all sounds. In some cases, certain frequencies are better preserved than others.
For example, a person may be perfectly aware that someone is speaking but have difficulty distinguishing certain speech sounds. This can make words seem unclear and require additional effort to follow a conversation.
Some common signs include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
- Finding it harder to understand when there is background noise.
- Turning up the television volume.
- Having difficulty following group conversations.
- Noticing that some people seem to be “mumbling”.
- Feeling tired after meetings or long conversations.
Why Is It Harder to Understand When There Is Noise?
Restaurants, family gatherings, outdoor terraces or celebrations are particularly demanding situations for hearing. The brain needs to distinguish the voice we want to hear from the other sounds in the environment.
When hearing loss is present, this task can become more complicated.
That is why having difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments can be one of the first signs that it is time to have your hearing checked.
The Importance of Having a Hearing Check
When these symptoms appear, a hearing assessment makes it possible to understand how each ear hears and detect possible changes.
At Auz Audiology, a hearing centre in San Fulgencio, we carry out a personalised assessment to understand each person’s hearing needs and guide them through the available solutions when necessary.
Detecting changes in hearing early can help maintain more comfortable communication and make it easier to participate in conversations and everyday activities.
If you have recently noticed that you can hear but find it difficult to understand what people are saying, a hearing check may be the first step towards understanding the condition of your hearing.
