If you have sudden, severe hearing loss, you will notice right away that your ability to hear has decreased significantly or disappeared totally in the affected ear. For example, you may snap your fingers next to the affected ear and not hear it, or you may put the telephone receiver against your ear and hear nothing.

If your hearing loss is gradual, symptoms may be more subtle. You may have difficulty understanding conversations, either in person or on the telephone. Family members may complain that you play the radio or TV too loudly. You may ask them to repeat what they say or frequently misunderstand what they are saying.

Some diseases and conditions that cause hearing loss may produce additional symptoms, including:

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Discharge or bleeding from the ear
• Deep earache, or pain in the ear canal
• Pressure or a "stuffy" feeling inside the ears
• Dizziness or problems with balance or equilibrium
• Nausea