That sounds like a silly question, I know. I imagine you are thinking, "Well, when you can't hear, of course!" But I'm thinking that perhaps there are subtle degrees of hearing loss that we aren't aware of along the way.
I know I have some hearing loss from all the rock concerts I went to in my 20s and 30s. That third-row seat at Bruce Springsteen was awesome, but my ears have rang ever since! And that's a couple of decades ago!
I find myself saying "what?" more often, yet I feel like most of the time I hear well. I have constant tinnitis, but I know a hearing aid won't help tune that out (if it would, I'd have signed up years ago). My question is, how does a person know that slight hearing loss has built up to the degree that they need some help? What does a person notice in their lives that signify "this is serious" as opposed to just "Mom was right, I should have turned it down." ?