If you are finding it difficult to hear people when they speak to you, and they sound as if they are speaking in hushed, muffled tones, you will want to take steps in finding out why. In many cases, muffled sounds can be a symptom associated with permanent hearing loss. Here are some steps you should take in getting a diagnosis, solving your hearing troubles, and how to protect the hearing you still have. 

See An Audiologist

An audiologist can determine the condition of your hearing so you will know to what extent you are able to hear. They will administer a series of hearing tests to find out which tones you are able to hear easily and which you have difficulty with. This is usually done by putting on a set of headphones and raising your hand or clicking a device when a sound is heard in one of your ears. Both ears will be tested equally to find out if one is faltering worse than the other. These results will be analyzed and the audiologist will let you know if you qualify for a need for hearing aids.

Select Help With Hearing

If you are told hearing aids will be helpful for your hearing situation, take the audiologist's advice and look at selections available at a hearing aid store. Bring along a friend to help you test different hearing aid models. After putting a pair in your ears, adjust the volume and have your friend speak to you from across the room. Make sure you can hear each word they say without difficulty.

Some hearing aids are easy to adjust the sound level, but they will most likely be a bit on the larger side, making them noticeable to others. If you are not concerned about others finding out, these would work best. If you wish to hide your hearing aids, there are many in the ear models that are virtually undetectable to others. The volume may be harder to adjust, so it is best to try these models out in advance to see if you will be able to maneuver your fingers in the ear to get the right sound.

Protect Your Existing Hearing

Regardless of the outcome of your test, you will want to take steps to protect any hearing you still have present. Make it a habit to stay away from loud areas such as concerts or construction zones unless you are wearing protective earmuffs or earplugs. If you do need hearing aids, you will not be able to use earplugs, so earmuffs are a good way to safeguard your ears in this situation. Avoid the use of earphones to listen to music and mark volume controls on your television, car radio, or home stereo to help keep sound at a safe level.