Struggling to hear / understand conversations
Discussion
In general my hearing is fine, I can hear radio / tv at normal volumes and conversations in quiet or calm environments are not an issue.
However, recently I have found that I simply cannot follow a conversation if in an active environment. Pub / Cafe / Train etc.
I spent an evening in a restaurant recently looking utterly gormless as I simply could not follow the conversation.
Is this a medical thing? Or is it a learnt behaviour thanks to lockdowns, having spent so long away from company in normal environments?
However, recently I have found that I simply cannot follow a conversation if in an active environment. Pub / Cafe / Train etc.
I spent an evening in a restaurant recently looking utterly gormless as I simply could not follow the conversation.
Is this a medical thing? Or is it a learnt behaviour thanks to lockdowns, having spent so long away from company in normal environments?
rab.s said:
In general my hearing is fine, I can hear radio / tv at normal volumes and conversations in quiet or calm environments are not an issue.
However, recently I have found that I simply cannot follow a conversation if in an active environment. Pub / Cafe / Train etc.
I spent an evening in a restaurant recently looking utterly gormless as I simply could not follow the conversation.
Is this a medical thing? Or is it a learnt behaviour thanks to lockdowns, having spent so long away from company in normal environments?
Go for a hearing test. You could be losing capability in certain frequencies which will results in what you describeHowever, recently I have found that I simply cannot follow a conversation if in an active environment. Pub / Cafe / Train etc.
I spent an evening in a restaurant recently looking utterly gormless as I simply could not follow the conversation.
Is this a medical thing? Or is it a learnt behaviour thanks to lockdowns, having spent so long away from company in normal environments?
k off quite easily lolrab.s said:
In general my hearing is fine, I can hear radio / tv at normal volumes and conversations in quiet or calm environments are not an issue.
However, recently I have found that I simply cannot follow a conversation if in an active environment. Pub / Cafe / Train etc.
I spent an evening in a restaurant recently looking utterly gormless as I simply could not follow the conversation.
Is this a medical thing? Or is it a learnt behaviour thanks to lockdowns, having spent so long away from company in normal environments?
Very common first sign of hearing loss I'm afraid. Definitely go and get tested.However, recently I have found that I simply cannot follow a conversation if in an active environment. Pub / Cafe / Train etc.
I spent an evening in a restaurant recently looking utterly gormless as I simply could not follow the conversation.
Is this a medical thing? Or is it a learnt behaviour thanks to lockdowns, having spent so long away from company in normal environments?
OP: My guess is you're early 40's
Happened to me about then, slowly fade into the background, out of any conversation.
My hearing has continued to deteriorate to the point now where I can understand some TV presenters but not others dependent upon their vocal frequencies. Subtitles on TV are virtually a must otherwise much of the talk is muffled for want of a better word.
Happened to me about then, slowly fade into the background, out of any conversation.
My hearing has continued to deteriorate to the point now where I can understand some TV presenters but not others dependent upon their vocal frequencies. Subtitles on TV are virtually a must otherwise much of the talk is muffled for want of a better word.
Skyedriver said:
OP: My guess is you're early 40's
Happened to me about then, slowly fade into the background, out of any conversation.
My hearing has continued to deteriorate to the point now where I can understand some TV presenters but not others dependent upon their vocal frequencies. Subtitles on TV are virtually a must otherwise much of the talk is muffled for want of a better word.
Go and get tested as well. Hearing aids are brilliant!Happened to me about then, slowly fade into the background, out of any conversation.
My hearing has continued to deteriorate to the point now where I can understand some TV presenters but not others dependent upon their vocal frequencies. Subtitles on TV are virtually a must otherwise much of the talk is muffled for want of a better word.
V8covin said:
I've always been like that.
When I used to go clubbing and chat up women I had to guess what they were saying lol
Wait...When I used to go clubbing and chat up women I had to guess what they were saying lol
You're supposed to hear what people are saying?
No wonder I didn't like it when I went!
I'm a quiet person, spending my evening in a constant cycle of whats and pardons despite my best drill sergeant impression got very boring very quickly
I am the same as this. Hearing is OK, but in my youth, always struggled to hear in busy pubs and clubs. I think it's the way you tune into things perhaps?
I've always been used to working in a busy office but could always concentrate on work and ignore it. Now back in a half filled office a couple of times a week and I find it very loud!
I've always been used to working in a busy office but could always concentrate on work and ignore it. Now back in a half filled office a couple of times a week and I find it very loud!
I have the same issue with deteriorating hearing and finally went for a hearing test last year.
I had the same concern as you OP in as much I could hear people talking to me but couldn't understand what they were saying even if they were standing next to me. The requirement for masks has made it worse as well in terms of lip reading.
It turns out that I have quite severe hearing loss at higher frequencies and the specialist said that vowels are higher frequency sounds and that makes it harder to understand what is being said because you are missing the vowel sounds in words.
Not sure how true that is but it seems to make more sense than me losing my mental capacity, I hope
I can however lay in bed and hear the cats come in the rear cat flap at the other end of the house through one closed door.
I now have a nice pair of hearing aids that sit in my bedside cabinet because I cannot bring myself to accept that I am getting old and should really be wearing them.
I read somewhere that 70% or so of hearing aids reside in drawers rather than ears.
I had the same concern as you OP in as much I could hear people talking to me but couldn't understand what they were saying even if they were standing next to me. The requirement for masks has made it worse as well in terms of lip reading.
It turns out that I have quite severe hearing loss at higher frequencies and the specialist said that vowels are higher frequency sounds and that makes it harder to understand what is being said because you are missing the vowel sounds in words.
Not sure how true that is but it seems to make more sense than me losing my mental capacity, I hope
I can however lay in bed and hear the cats come in the rear cat flap at the other end of the house through one closed door.
I now have a nice pair of hearing aids that sit in my bedside cabinet because I cannot bring myself to accept that I am getting old and should really be wearing them.
I read somewhere that 70% or so of hearing aids reside in drawers rather than ears.
It's not a sign of hearing damage, I've always been like this. It's called Audio Processing Disorder (APD)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-...
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-...
Monkeylegend said:
I
I now have a nice pair of hearing aids that sit in my bedside cabinet because I cannot bring myself to accept that I am getting old and should really be wearing them.
I read somewhere that 70% or so of hearing aids reside in drawers rather than ears.
It's bizarre how glasses are acceptable, but hearing aids aren't. I've had them 4-5 years (now 51) and can't see how I copied without now.I now have a nice pair of hearing aids that sit in my bedside cabinet because I cannot bring myself to accept that I am getting old and should really be wearing them.
I read somewhere that 70% or so of hearing aids reside in drawers rather than ears.
TameRacingDriver said:
It's not a sign of hearing damage, I've always been like this. It's called Audio Processing Disorder (APD)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-...
In the OP's case, it's a recent thing. That's not APD, it's the start of hearing loss, unfortunately. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-...
Big thread here FWIW: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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