The Truth About “Muffled” Hearing: Is It Gradual or Sudden?

In this episode, Lisa Wenstrup, PhD., an audiologist with UC Health (University of Cincinnati), shares how hearing changes as we age—often starting with difficulty hearing high frequencies and understanding speech in background noise. You’ll learn why hearing loss isn’t always “just an older-person” issue, how earbuds and modern listening environments can contribute, and what early signals like muffled sounds may mean for your day-to-day life.