The 5 Signs You're Ready for Hearing Aids

1. The TV Volume Becomes a Family Debate

If people consistently tell you the TV is too loud compared to what they'd prefer, you're likely trying to gain additional clarity that you're not getting at normal volumes.

Now, TV design hasn't made this easier over the years. Many modern TVs have speakers mounted on the back that fire sound toward the wall. They also use lots of sound effects and background music that can muddle speech—exactly what you're trying to hear clearly.

It's perfectly normal for people of all ages to use closed captions these days. But if you notice a consistent gap between how much volume you need versus the person watching with you, that's often your first clue it's time to take a closer look at your hearing.

Bottom line: When the volume that gives you clarity is consistently too loud for others, your brain is working overtime to fill in missing pieces.

2. The Other Room Struggle

One pattern I really struggled with before getting hearing aids was hearing someone speak to me from another room.

A family member would say something from the kitchen while I was in the living room. I'd have to get up, walk over to them, and ask them to repeat themselves—or ask them to come into my room to talk.

This might seem minor, but it's actually a clear signal. If you can't comfortably carry on a conversation unless you're in the same room with clear sightlines, your hearing has likely declined more than you realize.

Bottom line: Needing face-to-face proximity for casual conversations means you're already compensating significantly.

3. You've Become a Lip Reading Detective

Before I got hearing aids, I didn't realize how much I relied on watching people's mouths move as they talked. I was unconsciously piecing together information from visual cues because my ears weren't capturing everything.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with lip reading—I still rely on it even when wearing hearing aids. But what it typically tells you is that your brain is in overdrive trying to grab information, rather than focusing on the content of what's being said or the emotional connection with the person.

Multiple scientific studies show that people with untreated hearing loss use different parts of their brain to try to understand words, instead of higher-level processing around meaning and connection.

Here's the clearest signal you're relying on lip reading: when someone starts talking toward you and then turns to the side or turns their back mid-conversation, it becomes really hard to follow.

I notice this especially with my four-year-old daughter, who's constantly turning around and moving. Without my hearing aids, I lose the conversation the moment she's not facing me.

Bottom line: If you struggle to follow conversations when you can't see someone's face, you're working much harder than you need to.

4. Background Noise Becomes A Distraction

Audiologists talk about something called the signal-to-noise ratio. Think of "signal" as the speech you're trying to capture, and "noise" as everything else. As the noise floor rises—whether that's a restaurant, family gathering, or even just the dishwasher running—you need that speech signal to be even louder to understand it.

People with hearing loss typically have a hard time grabbing onto enough of that speech signal in noisy environments to get any clarity. The result? You end up falling back on lip reading, or in many cases, simply opting out of the conversation entirely.

Bottom line: If you find yourself avoiding restaurants, parties, or group conversations because it's too hard to follow along, background noise is winning the battle.

5. You Start Avoiding Social Situations (This One's the Most Important)

When I first got hearing aids in 2020, I realized I'd been walking across the street to avoid my neighbors when they were outside wearing masks. I didn't want them to start a conversation because I knew I'd struggle to understand them.

I genuinely love talking to my neighbors. But this situation was a microcosm of all the little interactions that become easy to opt out of when you're not hearing well.

Maybe it's letting a conversation happen at one end of the dinner table without really tuning in. Maybe it's avoiding a coworker who speaks quietly. Maybe it's declining invitations to group events because you know they'll be frustrating.

For me, the most important impact was on my confidence heading into conversations. I'd feel just a little less engaged, almost with my guard up, because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to track with what was being said.

Bottom line: When you start changing your social behavior to accommodate hearing challenges, you're losing more than just sound—you're losing connection.

Don't Wait 

Looking back, there were many situations that were unnecessarily frustrating because I waited so long to get help.

Those conference room meetings. Missing conversations with my daughter. Avoiding neighbors during a time when connection mattered most.

My encouragement to you isn't necessarily to go out and buy hearing aids tomorrow. It's to take the first step: test your hearing and start taking a proactive approach.

There's a good chance that if you do have hearing loss, you're going to feel a lot more confident with some support. And there are innovative products available today that can help you situationally or all day, depending on your needs.

You don't have to keep struggling with frustrating conversations or avoiding social situations. Take the first step and see where you stand.

Ready to get started?

🎧 Take our free 5-minute hearing test to understand your hearing profile (here)

📧 Have questions? Email us at hello@soundly.com

📞 Or text/call us at (833) 768-6359

We help people navigate these decisions every day—and we'd love to help you find the right next step.

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