Am I losing my hearing? Common signs, and when to see a doctor or have a hearing test

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By Sandra Meyer, hearing care professional (Spanish qualification: audioprotesista), registration no. 2822, Professional College of Higher Health Technicians of the Valencian Community · Published 7 October 2026

Only a hearing test can really answer that, but there are common signs that give a clue: turning the television up, asking people to repeat things, losing the thread when it’s noisy. This guide explains these signs, when to see a doctor first and what happens at a first appointment. If your hearing has dropped suddenly, a hearing test is not the first step: see a doctor or go to A&E (Urgencias) without delay.

1. What family and friends often notice first

Hearing usually changes little by little. That is why family often notice it before you do. These are things people often hear:

• ‘You’ve got the telly on really loud.’
• ‘I’ve told you twice.’
• ‘You answered something else.’
• ‘You don’t hear me when I call you from the other room.’

2. ‘I can hear, but I can’t make out the words’: why restaurants and family meals are harder

This is one of the most common things people notice. You can hear that someone is speaking, but you can’t make out the words clearly. It happens most in a restaurant, at a family meal or when several people talk at once.

Many consonants, such as ‘s’, ‘f’ or ‘t’, are soft, high-pitched sounds. When high-pitched sounds are harder to hear, you hear the voice, but the words are harder to follow.

3. Feeling tired after talking, and avoiding noisy places without realising

Following a conversation when hearing is difficult takes a lot of effort. Some people end up tired after a get-together or, without realising, start avoiding noisy places. This can be a sign too.

4. Sudden hearing loss: see a doctor or go to A&E without delay

If you notice that you hear much less from one moment to the next, usually in one ear, see a doctor or go to A&E (Urgencias) without delay. It is a medical emergency: a hearing test is not the first step.

5. Other signs to see a doctor about first: one ear only, pain, discharge, dizziness or a pulsing sound in the ear

See a doctor first if you notice:

• that you hear less in one ear only;
• ear pain;
• discharge (fluid coming out of the ear);
• dizziness, or a feeling that everything is spinning;
• a pulsing sound in the ear, in time with your heartbeat.

If you notice ringing or buzzing, there is more information on our tinnitus page.

6. Hard of hearing, presbycusis, hearing loss: what the words mean

• Hearing loss or being hard of hearing: hearing less than normal. Both mean the same thing.
• Presbycusis: hearing loss that comes on gradually with age. It usually affects high-pitched sounds first.
• Deafness: in everyday language it is used for any hearing loss, although it is sometimes kept for the greater ones.

7. How often to have your hearing checked

There is no single rule for everyone. After your first check, we tell you how often it is worth checking again, based on your result. And if you notice changes in the meantime, book an appointment sooner.

8. What happens at the first appointment, and what we explain afterwards

First we talk about what you have noticed. Then we look in your ear and do the tests, with beeps and with words. We spend between an hour and an hour and a half.

At the end we show you your audiogram and explain what it means for your daily life. If you don’t need a hearing aid, we will tell you. If you would like to know more about the tests, we explain them in the guide to hearing tests.