Hearing Loss

Sections

Symptoms

Signs of Hearing Loss

  • Turning the radio or TV up very loud
  • Often asking people to repeat themselves
  • Raising one’s own voice more often
  • Trouble talking or hearing in noisy places like parties or restaurants
  • Staying home to avoid places where it is hard to hear
  • Irritability
  • Not hearing someone who is not in the same line of sight

Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears (called tinnitus) can also be a sign of hearing loss. Tinnitus often goes along with age-related hearing loss. But it can also point to another health problem. A healthcare provider should check it out.

Medications that May Affect Hearing

More than 200 medicines can harm your hearing. These include:

  • Some antibiotics
  • Some chemotherapy drugs (used to treat cancer)
  • High doses of aspirin or other pain medicines
  • Some diuretics (water pills), which help remove extra fluid from the body

The first sign of hearing problems from a medicine is often ringing in the ears. Balance problems or dizziness may also happen. Talk to your doctor about possibly stopping culprit medications.

 

Last Reviewed and Updated: October 2026 
By: AGS/HiAF Public Education Committee, HealthinAging.org Content Reviewers 

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