Are people more quietly spoken after Covid or am I being unreasonable?

[ArtimisGame]

People who speak too quietly annoy me. I’ve noticed more people speaking like little mice after the pandemic, maybe because they forgot how to make themselves heard? Or maybe I’m actually being unreasonable and speaking really quietly is totally fine. Or maybe I’m going deaf!

They are on TV programmes! Although maybe I am also going deaf!

To me everyone is louder!

Perhaps the Illuminati turned the volume down?

I think you are going deaf. It's you, not us 😛

My DH has started doing his outside voice since covid. It's unbearable. Every time he opens his mouth I have to ask him to be quieter. My DDs are quieter so I know it's him, I suspect he's going deaf too.

NOOOO! I can tell you don't work in retail!

OMG this! Constant bloody mumbling, I keep the subtitles on all the time these days. I thought it was just me!

Definitely not just you! I always have the subtitles on for that exact reason!

I have not noticed this at all, but I will observe more now and will report back.

I lost my hearing a little due to covid

Nah mate, you just got older

I've not noticed this, just less likely to speak, will text, or message in other ways.

I wish. Everywhere I go is flipping LOUD.
Loud conversations, loud phone calls, loud music, loud random screeching by children, loud eating, loud breathing …..LOUD LOUD LOUD.
And that’s just on the bus 😂

Have you had your hearing tested recently, OP? No snark, but thinking other people are talking too quietly can be a sign. Especially if you're the only one having an issue hearing them.

No I haven’t had my hearing checked because I’m in my mid thirties and it’s not like there is any treatment for hearing loss anyway? I can’t afford to pay for a hearing test right now. Some people I can hear just fine, but other people I have to ask to repeat stuff. I think my close family talk loudly so I’m used to that.

You can do a free online hearing test through Specsavers (as an initial indicator) or alternatively go through your GP for a (free) audiology referral.

Of course it's possible to lose some hearing in your thirties - people can experience hearing loss at any age. And yes, there are treatments available to treat, not necessarily cure, hearing loss.

For some people - not saying you're one - the reason they can hear some people fine and not others is to do with the type of hearing loss they're experiencing, ie, they can hear high frequencies but not low, or vice versa.

All that is just conjecture though. Won't know unless you have a hearing test, which people are advised to do as a matter of course every few years in any case.

I'm gonna see if I can take the Specsavers one as I know I listen to music through headphones too loudly.

Free test https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/take-online-hearing-check/

I've noticed this. Very irritating.

Ditto

I speak more quietly because Covid fucked my lungs up and I squeak if I talk too loudly for too long.

My mum used to grumble about this- turned out it was hearing loss.

OP, if you’re noticing it a lot it would be worth asking your GP for a check. It doesn’t cost anything.

Maybe it’s a symptom of long covid?

@ArtimisGame hearing tests are free in a multitude of high street locations.

I'm an Audiologist and there is definitely an increase in younger people with hearing loss due to covid (we think).

I speak softly. My whole family do. If you listen you can hear us. If you half listen and don't focus you won't and I don't care. Unless you have hearing loss it is easy to actually concentrate on someone when they speak.

I suffered hearing loss when I got Covid so now it sounds like everyone is mumbling when in reality, my ears are just fucked

I didn’t know that this was a potential COVID related issue. So sorry for everyone going through it.