“When many people talk at once I can’t distinguish their voices” is a common first symptom of hearing damage. “I can’t hear when somebody is whispering” is unusual as first symptom. So I would guess that the answer to your question is yes. And in any case, if you go to an ear doctor they can find out for certain whether or not you have a hearing problem.
That’s true, however people with severe hearing loss can often hear faint sounds provided the sounds contain frequencies that stimulate the cilia in their cochlea that remain undamaged. A person with normal hearing will tend to tolerate more audio interference than a hearing impaired person.
“When many people talk at once I can’t distinguish their voices” is a common first symptom of hearing damage. “I can’t hear when somebody is whispering” is unusual as first symptom. So I would guess that the answer to your question is yes. And in any case, if you go to an ear doctor they can find out for certain whether or not you have a hearing problem.
I think sensitivity to faint sounds and the ability to sort signal from background noise are separate abilities.
That’s true, however people with severe hearing loss can often hear faint sounds provided the sounds contain frequencies that stimulate the cilia in their cochlea that remain undamaged. A person with normal hearing will tend to tolerate more audio interference than a hearing impaired person.