Disorientation may result. A person with a significant hearing loss may be at risk from not hearing warning bells, alarms and horns. Hearing loss may significantly impair the ability to successfully cope with or adapt to other age-related losses. It is possible for a person to have a slight hearing loss but not experience any interference with daily living. Impairment Impaired hearing affects more older adults than any other chronic condition.
People often compensate for a minimal level of hearing loss and do so fairly successfully.
Complains that others do not speak clearly. Frequently asks others to repeat what was said. Habitually turns her or his head to one side while listening. Has difficulty discerning the source of sounds. Often, it is difficult to know how much hearing loss there is due to aging and how much is attributed to other factors.