Severe Hearing Loss Symptoms Details of discussions may become hazy if you lose your hearing, either suddenly or gradually. Sounds will get muted and fade out gradually. You may also have the following symptoms depending on the source of your hearing loss: One or both ears are hurting. Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) may also occur. As you lose hearing, it can be difficult to know how much conversation is taking place around you. You may think that everyone has heard everything you said, but perhaps not. Either way, going deaf can cause many problems for those around you. It's important to understand the role your hearing plays in communicating with others so you don't feel isolated. There are several ways in which losing your hearing could affect your life. Here are some examples: Social Isolation: Feeling alone even when someone is standing right next to you can be painful. Going deaf might cause you to ignore other people's conversations/statuses on social media sites such as Facebook. This is because you cannot hear what they are saying. Even if they use text messaging or speech recognition software, you would still feel socially isolated. Isolated at School: Schools need to provide students with adequate communication tools for them to learn. If you are going deaf, your teachers may offer you a student aid program to help you communicate.