What are common symptoms of hearing damage that employees should recognize?

The correct choice identifies symptoms that are directly associated with hearing damage, which is crucial for employees to recognize in order to take action to protect their hearing health. Ringing in the ears, often referred to as tinnitus, is a common indication of early hearing loss or exposure to loud noise. Muffled sounds can signify that sound clarity is compromised, which is a typical effect of hearing damage. Difficulty with speech clarity can arise from not being able to differentiate between sounds, making it hard to follow conversations—a key concern in workplace communication.

Understanding these specific symptoms enables employees to be proactive about their hearing health. Recognizing these signs early can lead to interventions such as reducing noise exposure or using hearing protection, ultimately preventing further damage. The other options listed include symptoms that are not typically associated with hearing damage and would lead to misunderstanding the primary effects of auditory stress.