Hearing Loss: Know the Signs

Hanna Prince
Sep 24, 2025
4 min read

Could you be experiencing the early stages of hearing loss? Hanna Prince talks to the experts at Sussex Audiology about key red flags – and why it’s so important to take action

There’s growing evidence to show that catching hearing loss early can ward off a raft of health issues. Cognitive decline, depression and permanent changes in sound processing are all linked to impaired hearing health – but it currently takes people experiencing problems an average of seven years to seek help. That’s why Sussex Audiology is actively campaigning to raise awareness of this under-publicised but hugely important area of healthcare.

“We want to help people understand how to identify when they have early hearing loss,” explained Operations Director Bryce Murphy. “The aim is to assist them to hear better and stay more engaged with life.”

Symptom spotting

Part of the issue is that the early signs of hearing loss can be subtle and easy to misinterpret. According to audiologist Laura Nelson, the most common red flag is struggling to hear in noisy environments. “That’s often the biggest complaint of hearing-impaired people,” she said. “They will have trouble in places like cafes, restaurants and social gatherings; places where there’s a lot of background noise.”

People with hearing loss often find that the higher frequencies are the first to go. If you’re finding it difficult to hear women’s or children’s voices then that’s a prompt to get tested. “People often joke about selective hearing,” said Laura. “And it could just be that – but it could be that you have hearing loss and are starting to lose those high tones.”

If you’re beginning to feel as if the people you’re talking to are mumbling more or sound muffled, that’s another common symptom of hearing issues. A subtler but equally common sign is mishearing particular letters and syllables; confusing ‘s’ and ‘f’, for instance. You might also find yourself missing everyday sounds – birds singing, doorbells – or needing a higher volume on devices.

“It’s possible that those around you will be the first to notice,” explained Laura. “For example, they might point out that you’re incrementally having to put the TV volume up.”

Seeking help

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s important to seek professional help from an audiologist. You might find that the results are reassuring – popping, cracking, whistling or dull hearing

can often be caused by earwax. But if hearing loss is the problem, early diagnosis and treatment can stave off related health problems. “We go to the dentist, we go to the optician,” said Bryce, “and part of staying engaged in life and caring for our health is getting our hearing tested and making sure it’s as good as it can be.”

Getting a diagnosis couldn’t be more straightforward. Sussex Audiology offers hour-long hearing aid assessments out of its seven clinics completely free of charge. The family-run business, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, prides itself on tailored, high- quality support and aftercare.

“Only a small portion of our free hearing assessments covers testing,” explained Bryce, “because the rest of the assessment is about discussing the patient more holistically; what they enjoy doing, what’s important to them in their lifestyle.”

Building a holistic picture of patients’ lives helps the experts at Sussex Audiology offer an individually tailored treatment and aftercare package. As an independent company it has access to the entire market of hearing products, including exclusive models not available

through any other retailer.

“Technological advancements in hearing aids have been massive, even over the last 12 months,” said Bryce. “We’ve seen huge leaps in size, style and overcoming background noise. The latest hearing aids are all rechargeable, and you can use an app on your phone to controlthe volume and to select different programmes for different environments. There are a wide range of accessories available to help enhance their performance and function as well, from connectivity toTVs and other devices to personal microphones.”

What that means in practice is that Sussex Audiology can supply hearing aids and accessories tailored to suit any lifestyle, whether you want to hear speech more clearly in busy social situations or get a better audio experience from your TV. It can also help people who

were unable to receive care on the NHS, particularly those

with hearing loss on just one side. And budget needn’t be a barrier, thanks to the five-tier hearing aid packages and finance options available.

In reviews, Sussex Audiology’s patients tend to have just one regret: that they didn’t seek treatment sooner. “People tell us about the enjoyment they’re getting from hearing sounds that they’d missed, like birdsong and their grandchildren laughing,” said Bryce. “We get so many happy patients who always say they wish they had come to us a long time ago.”