Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a sudden loss of hearing, particularly in one ear. Consult your doctor if your hearing loss is interfering with your everyday life. Because age-related hearing loss develops gradually, you may not notice it at first. But over time, it can become severe enough to affect your communication skills and hinder your ability to participate in daily activities. Here are some examples of how losing your hearing could affect your life: You might not know it, but others find it difficult to communicate with you because you no longer hear them. Even if someone does speak loudly, you won't be able to understand them if they talk slowly or use gestures instead of words. You might feel isolated because you cannot listen to music or conversations read lips. And you certainly wouldn't want anyone to think you're rude or insensitive. Losing your hearing isn't just a problem for older people. In fact, about 20% of people who visit their doctor with hearing problems are under the age of 45. And nearly half of those people have had their hearing tested by a doctor more than once during their lives. The most common reason for repeated hearing tests is that patients don't realize that hearing loss can occur from aging, even if it started early in life.