Ask your audiologist

People with hearing loss typically talk louder than they need to because they are less able to self-monitor their own voice. When one has hearing loss their own voice is damped from that hearing loss. Usually the more severe the hearing loss the louder someone will speak without hearing aids.

It is amazing how a properly fit pair of hearing aids will help someone tone their own voice down to normal speaking levels. I see it in the office on a daily basis. Someone comes in talking really loud and then I clean, re-tube or repair their hearing aid and put it back in their ear and they tend to speak in a more normal volume again.

I have experienced this myself with ear plugs. If you put a pair of ear plugs in your ear you will speak louder because you can't hear yourself as well. This is the same thing a hearing impaired person goes through.

It can be embarrassing for friends, spouses and family when someone with hearing loss won't wear their hearing aids and walks around talking super loud. Other people are looking at you wondering what is wrong with you that you have to talk so loud.

Some people may wonder if you have been drinking. Drunk people will tend to speak louder than normal. If someone is speaking louder than normal they should have their ears checked for ear wax and screened for hearing loss.

Dr. Tia Flynn is a certified audiologist and has been in business for more than 10 years. Every Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, Dr. Flynn provides free hearing screenings at 1601 Third St. in Coeur d'Alene. (208) 664-2767. Visit www.affordablehearinginc.com for a free copy of the consumers guide to hearing aids and watch helpful videos.