At what stage of the patient journey do family and friends typically begin to notice hearing problems?

The pre-awareness stage is characterized by the period when individuals and their close social circles, like family and friends, may start to notice subtle signs or changes in hearing ability. At this point, the person with potential hearing loss might not recognize or acknowledge these changes themselves. Friends and family often notice cues that suggest the individual may struggle to hear or comprehend conversations, especially in noisy environments or group settings.

During this stage, those around the individual often observe behaviors such as frequently asking for repetitions, raising the volume on devices, or exhibiting signs of frustration during social interactions. These observations can lead to conversations that encourage the person to seek further assessment. This pivotal moment is crucial to starting the journey towards recognition and addressing the hearing difficulties before moving to greater awareness and subsequent stages, like diagnosis and rehabilitation.