Would you know if your hearing was impaired? Those with hearing loss are often the last ones to recognize it. Unless related to physical or medical trauma, hearing loss generally occurs slowly over time. The process presents itself as people mumbling, unclear voices, or difficulty hearing through background noise. Friends and family are usually the first to notice when they aren’t being heard, or when they are consistently asked to repeat themselves. You may be tempted to brush it off as selective hearing. But if those close to you have said they suspect you have a hearing loss, it’s time to get your hearing checked.