Hearing loss impacts everyone differently. According to the National Council on Aging (1999), untreated hearing loss can lead to sadness, depression, worry, anxiety, emotional turmoil, and insecurity as well as less social activity. Frustration occurs when we cannot effectively communicate with one another. Often times, loved ones are the first to notice these affects.

Hearing loss is very common and can create problems with communication, safety, and overall quality of life. Because it happens very slowly -- usually over several years -- people often don't notice that they have a hearing loss. Some of the symptoms of hearing loss include:

• Difficulty hearing normal conversations
• Finding yourself watching and reading lips to understand what someone is saying
• Asking people to repeat things
• Misunderstanding what people are saying
• Turning the TV or radio volume higher than normal
• Thinking people are mumbling when they speak
• Experiencing ringing in the ears, frequent ear infections, or dizziness
• Feeling exhausted from trying to hear people